Cultural cooperation Spain-Netherlands 2021-2024
In Spain, audiences have a broad interest in culture, ranging from more classical to present-day art. Promoting culture that is inviting and accessible offers an opportunity to reach different groups within the diverse Spanish society. The Netherlands is generally seen as innovative, creative and groundbreaking. The Dutch multidisciplinary and practical approach is appreciated. Spanish-Dutch collaborations take place in various disciplines and sectors, from music to heritage and from design to literature.
Examples of collaborations are diverse:
- Film: participation of Theo Jansen in Spanish documentary about the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid on the occasion of their 250th anniversary (2021); six productions by a.o. Ashgan El-Hamus and René Nuijens screened at short film festival Mecal Pro in Barcelona (2022); focal country at the Festival de Cine por Mujeres in Madrid with six contributions of: Heddy Honigmann, Halina Reijn, Urszula Antoniak and two other female directors (2022); the films A piece of my heart by Dana Nechushtan and White Berry by Sia Hermanides at the Festival de Cine por Mujeres in Madrid (2023).
- Literature: participation of authors Manon Uphoff Caer es como volar (Falling is like Flying) and Eva Meijer Animales Habladores (Animal Language) at HAY festival Segovia (2022); book presentation of Jente Posthuma of En lo que preferiria no pensar (What I’d Rather not Think About) in Barcelona and Madrid (2023); book presentation of Las Bestias (The Animals) by Gijs Wilbrink in Madrid (2024); Book presentation of Declaración de Dependencia (Declaration of Dependence) by Rebekka de Wit (2024).
- Design: Guest lectures by Dries van Wagenberg (What if … Lab of the Dutch Design Foundation) at Transferencias Design in Malaga and at the Design Academy EASD Valencia; Workshop and talk by circular hair designer Zsofia Kollar at FAD Barcelona; Dutch Fashion students participating in The Sustainable Challenge – Rethinking Gender in Fashion in Barcelona (2023), Exhibition Claudy Jongstra Pastoral Futures – Wool migrations in the Design Hub in Barcelona (2023); Piet Hein Eek and Irma Boom at Madrid Design Festival Pro (2024), Chris Kabel, Studio Verter, Alei Verspoor, Willem de Haan at urban desig festival Concentrico in Logroño.
- Architecture: Translation of Aldo van Eyck’s essay El niño, la Ciudad y el Artista (the Child, the City and the Artis); participation of landscape architect Adriaan Geuze of West 8 at HAY Festival Segovia (2023); Reinier de Graaf (OMA) at HAY Festival Sevilla (2024).
- Photography: Participation of Ellen Kooi at the Madrid Gallery Weekend (2021). Mo Verlaan exhibition Book of Light at FotoNostrum Gallery in Barcelona; Erwin Olaf’s exhibition Un mundo que desvanece at Centro Niemeyer in Avilés (2023)
- Performing arts: Participation of Nina Aalders (Theaterfestival Boulevard) in the jury and Jordi Ribot Thunnissen (dance writer and content creator) as a workshop leader at the Choreography competition Certamen Coreográfico by Paso a 2 in Madrid (2022); ITA’s Who Killed My Father at Festival de Otoño Madrid (2023); Participation of Nienke Rooijakkers (DansBrabant) at Certamen Coreográfico by Paso a 2 in Madrid (2023); Dance company Club Guy & Roni at Danza Metropolitana festival (2024).
- Music: Concert by the Rembrandt Trio (jazz) at Café Berlin in Madrid (2022) and on tour in Valencia, Malaga and other cities (2023), Netherlands Focal Country at Jazz I AM in Barcelona (Showcases for professionals) with three showcases and a round table with Dutch representatives and jury (2023); Jazz quartet Ben van den Dungen in Club Matador Madrid (2023); Metropole Orkest at Festival Internacional Canarias Jazz; concert of pop singer Benny Sings in Barcelona (2023).