What’s going on: themes and trends in Dutch culture

Since March 2020, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented influence on society and consequently on cultural life. The cultural sector faced heavy losses in income and audience reach, and shifts are occurring within cultural supply and consumption. Aside from losses, however, new opportunities arise – particularly in the digital domain. In addition to its direct effects, the pandemic has also brought more long-term developments within the cultural sector to light. These not only include economic issues such as the precarity of the cultural and creative labour market, but also diversity and inclusion, cultural participation, digitization and the increased social engagement of artists and makers.

For example streaming services have benefitted from the lockdowns and still do, there is a high demand for new stories and talented screenwriters. The game industry was already growing impressively and strong in the Netherlands, and this only continues. However to really stand out with new games has become more difficult. The corona crisis made people read more what made the market grow but at the same time affected physical bookshops, writers and the reading skills of children. Interesting developments are in digital literature, among others with literary virtual reality installations, connecting literature to games. There is also the growing popularity of the podcast as well as of spoken word in the Netherlands.

Architects and designers play a growing role in transitions such as climate adaptation and societal issues. Sustainability is prevalent in the sector, joining the trend of recycling and circularity. In the arts female makers are underrepresented in exhibitions and collections, despite increased attention for diversity. However, diversity and inclusion are being pushed harder than ever and digitization has in part provided solutions for museums, galleries and artists.

Source: Culture Monitor

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What’s going on: themes and trends in Dutch culture