Power of imagination - Stichting DOEN

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My DOEN

Content House Kenya investeert in de ontwikkeling van kunstenaars uit de Turkana-regio. Zij doen dit door uitwisseling, capaciteits versterking en de productie van fotografie, film, mode en muziek. Zo krijgen ze een kans om de verhalen uit dit gebied te vertellen aan een breed publiek.

Power of imagination

Imagination is a driver of change. DOEN supports creative projects that  promote sustainability, inclusion, equality, solidarity and creativity. From local projects funded by the VriendenLoterij Fonds to international partnerships, we provide financial support, share knowledge and raise visibility to encourage a socially engaged cultural sector that inspires people and triggers social change. With our partners we aim to build a more diverse, equitable, sustainable and resilient future. 

For her play Waste Me, the choreographer Cecilia Moisio worked with young people in Rotterdam to explore consumerism, herd behaviour, and ideas about the future. (Photo: Bart Grietens)
For her play Waste Me, the choreographer Cecilia Moisio worked with young people in Rotterdam to explore consumerism, herd behaviour, and ideas about the future. (Photo: Bart Grietens)

Designing the future together

DOEN supports projects that enable artists to involve individuals and communities in their creative process. The parties work together in a socially inclusive and equal manner. By supporting these social practice projects, we’re contributing to a future in which an abundance of perspectives and imagination will inspire change. Through the VriendenLoterij Fonds, in 2024 we supported 62 such projects in the Netherlands; 25 involved new partners and three involved increased funding for existing partners. Abroad, we supported 28 partners in 2024, nine of which had not previously received support from DOEN.  

Content House invests in the development of artists from Turkana county, Kenya, through exchange programmes and photography, film, fashion and music production. Creators from the region get a chance to tell their stories to a wider audience. (Photo: Content House Kenya)
Content House invests in the development of artists from Turkana county, Kenya, through exchange programmes and photography, film, fashion and music production. Creators from the region get a chance to tell their stories to a wider audience. (Photo: Content House Kenya)

Responding with flexibility 

Space for cultural and social initiatives is under pressure in the Netherlands and internationally. Fortunately, as a flexible organisation, DOEN can respond rapidly to requests for support from partners in crisis areas. We provide not only institutional funding that enables organisations to deal with rapidly changing conditions but also ongoing support for collectives such as Lumbung, Arts Collaboratory and Mophradat. 

Supporting growth 

The power of imagination lies at the heart of social change. That’s why the Power of Imagination team works closely with DOEN’s two other thematic teams. Through two development schemes, Art & Design for Inclusion (with the Social Solidarity team) and Art & Design for Biobased Materials (with the Regenerative Economy team), we help artists and designers to make their practices more professional. Thanks to long-term financial support and valuable networking and coaching opportunities, they’re able to work in a more focused, reflective way. This serves to increase the impact of their work towards a more socially inclusive, regenerative society. This scheme is unique and highly beneficial.  

In her Wij zijn kunstenaar (We Are Artists) podcast, Dide Vonk talks with guests about whether art can bring about change, and if so, how.
In the Wij zijn kunstenaar (We Are Artists) podcast, Dide Vonk talks with guests about whether art can bring about change, and if so, how.

Spotlighting partners  

Apart from providing funding and networking assistance, we publicise our partners as much as possible. In 2024, in addition to employing our own channels, we worked with media partners like ZAM Magazine, a platform for African artists, writers and free thinkers. And we commissioned the Kalaverse Initiative to make video portraits of our Ugandan partners. The VriendenLoterij Fonds launched a third season of its podcast Wij zijn kunstenaar, in which several partners discussed how art can bring about change. 

De Kunstenbond is the trade union for the arts and culture sector in the Netherlands. The VriendenLoterij Fonds is working with the union to create a more robust, healthier cultural sector. (Photo: Brett Sayles)
De Kunstenbond is the trade union for the arts and culture sector in the Netherlands. The VriendenLoterij Fonds is working with the union to create a more robust, healthier cultural sector. (Photo: Brett Sayles)

A robust creative sector

We’re looking critically at how we can best use our resources to boost artists’ and cultural workers’ mental health and resilience. For example, we advocate for fair pay and support mental health assistance for partners in crisis areas. Our partner Culture Resource promotes artistic creativity and cultural exchange in the Arab region and provides therapist support for its teams. In the Netherlands, creative partners of the VriendenLoterij Fonds receive membership of the arts and culture trade union De Kunstenbond for advice on rates and legal matters. In these ways, we’re working to help create a more robust, equitable and healthy cultural sector. 

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