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The policy period 2017-2020 was excellent for Dutch art and culture in the U.S., in the first three years. In these years, on average, approximately 2,000 Dutch cultural activities were held per year, across the U.S. with all disciplines represented. The U.S. has been part of the top two best export countries for Dutch art and culture for years. In 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large part of the planned activities could not take place, or only in an alternative, online form.
In the years 2017-2020, the Dutch consulate in New York proactively promoted visual arts, the creative industry (especially design), film, photography, international heritage cooperation and the performing arts. A more reactive approach was taken for the disciplines of dance, architecture, digital culture, gaming, fashion, EDM, literature and Old Masters, in combination with the demand-driven policy.
A number of highlights in terms of Dutch representation were: EXPO Chicago, Photoville, Art of Andriessen by the NY Philharmonic, including Maestro Jaap van Zweden, White Light Festival with The Psalms Experience, NDT I and II, ITA, Northside Festival, solo exhibitions by Rem Koolhaas in the Guggenheim, Studio Drift, SXSW in 2016 and 2017, collective Dutch design presentations during NYCxDESIGN, New Filmmakers LA Dutch Cinema in Focus, and many other prominent projects.
Dutch design generates a lot of positive press attention, whereby the Netherlands is often positioned as an innovative, forward-thinking and solution-oriented country. A multi-year commitment to collective presentations during NYCxDESIGN has contributed to this.
The highlight of the cooperation with the Dutch cultural funds and national institutions was the Never Grow Up! year in 2019, in which a multi-disciplinary youth art and culture programme took place with a focus on youth theatre, youth film and youth literature. It has led to greater demand and visibility and the desire to continue a trajectory with cultural activities for young audiences.
Regarding international heritage cooperation, relations with institutions in New York State have been strengthened and the working field has expanded to the Midwest. The consulate facilitated networking meetings and roundtables, which were greatly appreciated by both Dutch and American partners. Many projects were supported in the field of education, exhibitions, digitization of archives and heritage tourism.
In 2019 the renewed website DutchCultureUSA.com was launched. Tens of thousands of people are reached annually and hundreds of projects are promoted via the platform and the associated DutchCulture USA social media channels.
In the period 2021-2024, a strong position for the Dutch cultural sector in the U.S. will be pursued through visibility, exchange and sustainable cooperation, and the bilateral relationship between the Netherlands and the U.S. will be supported through Dutch cultural activities in the US. Cultural cooperation with the U.S. offers opportunities in all art disciplines. However, based on years of experience, an inventory of the quality of supply and demand and the available support from Dutch funds and institutions, the Dutch consulate in New York provides support especially to the following disciplines through either a proactive or a more reactive approach:
The U.S. is a large country with a very extensive and varied network of cultural institutions (approximately 113,000 across the country). New York remains the city with the greatest attraction for Dutch art and cultural expression. It is still the art centre of the world, with an unparalleled number of cultural institutions. The adage “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere” still applies, whereby Dutch (and international) talent can measure itself against the best offer. In addition, the U.S. has a number of large cities offering opportunities for international exchange thanks to a strong and extensive cultural infrastructure, such as Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Finally, there are emerging cities and regions of importance for cooperation, such as Atlanta GA, Dallas TX, Detroit MI, Houston TX and Miami FL. Although New York continues to exert a very strong appeal, the aim is to achieve a more national spread for Dutch-American cultural cooperation.
In the field of international heritage cooperation, the main focus is on New York City and New York State and the State of Michigan. The consulate general in New York works closely with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the National Archives of the Netherlands, and DutchCulture for knowledge exchange, capacity development and the digitization of the archives. In addition, the new connections with the Midwest provide opportunities for collaboration in the field of intangible heritage.
Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with the US? Feel free to contact our Focal Countries Desk with your questions.
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