CULTURE & COHESION

DOEN's ambition is to help build a society in which the individual can develop and is part of a broader social context. Initiatives in the field of culture, cohesion and media make an important contribution in achieving this objective: Culture mobilises the creative powers of imagination and offers new opportunities to act, Cohesion is created when the social bonds between individuals and groups are strengthened, for example, through new forms of interaction and Media provides independent information and contributes to a critical forming of opinion.

International Culture and Media
DOEN supports the development of the cultural sector in Uganda, Kenya, Mali and Senegal and in North Africa. The emphasis is on financing local projects and organisations and DOEN is open to all disciplines and activities. Assessment takes place on the basis of the urgency and added value of a project within the cultural sector in the country in question. DOEN considers applications that extend beyond the countries selected, as long as they have a clear link with the portfolio financed by DOEN.
More information about the DOEN Culture website >>

In the field of International Media DOEN focuses on freedom of the press in developing countries. Two aspects are emphasised: increasing the safety of journalists and increasing access to independent media. In addition to internationally-operating media organisations, DOEN finances specific organisations in Uganda, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and in North Africa.
Besides that, the programme contains two worldwide programmes on the role of culture with regards to social improvement: Arts Collaboratory and Social Design International.

Social Role of Culture
Many cultural institutions, including museums, attract a select public. DOEN supports cultural initiatives that are more closely aligned to the interests, personal experience and social environment of a wider group of potential visitors. In this programme DOEN supports initiatives in the Netherlands (including Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and the BES Islands).

Social Design
Social Design is an alternative, more sustainable approach to social issues by artists, and includes the design of public space, enhancing the quality of life and tackling food shortage. Social design can change our social environment and it can play an important role towards creating a liveable world in which everyone can make a contribution. In this programme DOEN supports initiatives in the Netherlands (including Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and the BES Islands).

Meeting Places and Media
New meeting places make a positive contribution to the quality of life and shared commitment to public space. A strongly-individual approach and aspiring to enduring contacts between people are of key importance. The prerequisite for DOEN’s support is that initiatives have the broad commitment of the participants and are based on a common interest.

Media plays a crucial role. It expresses public opinion, it can positively change existing stereotyped thought processes and can actively involve residents in a common interest – especially on a local level. Within this programme DOEN supports initiatives in the Netherlands (including Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and the BES Islands).