9th of May, Europe Day, on its way!

Each year, DutchCulture celebrates peace and unity in Europe on Europe Day, commemorating the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950. This year, we are proud to take part in the celebrations with two special events, organised in collaboration with the European Cultural Foundation, EIT Culture & Creativity, H'ART Museum, and SPUI25, with the support of the European Commission Representation in the Netherlands.

Please find the details of both events below. Attendance is free of charge, reserve your spot using the links provided.

Join our first event of the day ‘Culture Leads the Way’ at H’ART Museum on how culture plays a leading role in shaping our shared future, a collaboration by the European Cultural Foundation, EIT Culture & Creativity, H’ART Museum and DutchCulture | Creative Europe Desk NL. The various sessions during the day explore how arts and culture can strengthen democracy for all Europeans.

This public programme at H’ART Museum begins with three sessions hosted by Creative Europe Desk NL, offering insights into the broad scope of their work. The day will be officially opened by Annabelle Birnie, Director of H’ART Museum, who will also take part in the first session.

Throughout the day, advisors from Creative Europe Desk NL will be available on-site to provide in-depth guidance on funding opportunities, application procedures, and eligibility requirements.

Later in the morning, Tjerk Ridder will take the audience on an adventurous journey across the continent. In the afternoon, EIT Culture & Creativity will present an engaging showcase of their organisation, including open calls and programmes, illustrating how entrepreneurship and innovation are shaping Europe’s cultural future.

The final session will focus on the Cultural Deal for Europe, led by the European Cultural Foundation, advocating for culture to be placed at the heart of European policymaking. The programme will conclude with closing remarks by Touria Meliani, Amsterdam’s Alderman for Arts and Culture.

In the early evening we welcome you at the event Europe Up for Grabs? How to Reclaim a Continent? at SPUI25, co-organised by DutchCulture and the European Cultural Foundation, generously supported by the European Commission Representation in the Netherlands.

The Europeans podcast will moderate a public conversation on the challenges to European togetherness and how we can collectively address them. Speakers Alberto Alemanno (founder of The Good Lobby), awarded Dutch photographer Rob Hornstra (working on The Europeans, a portrait of modern Europe), Ukrainian artist Yuliia Elyas (co-curator of Ukrainian Decolonial Glossary), and journalist Gatool Katawazi will touch on what’s there to celebrate on May 9, explore if and how we may reclaim ownership of Europe, and whether that’s through storytelling, citizen engagement or the arts.