The Netherlands showcases creative and artistic talent during month of amateur art: iktoon
As of June 1, ‘iktoon’ will start again; the Month of Amateur Art. With some 80,000 participating artists, 3,500 events and 210,000 visitors, iktoon is the largest art manifestation in the Netherlands. Spread across approximately 130 municipalities, associations and amateur artists show what they have to offer and activate local residents to participate. From workshops and open rehearsals to performances and art markets, everyone can participate. This year the theme of the iktoon month is inclusion. Because art and culture should be accessible to everyone.
The campaign ‘iktoon – art for everyone’ is being organized for the fourth time this year and aims to get more people to participate in artistic and cultural activities. Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven of Education, Culture and Science (OCW): ): “Culture connects and enriches. It stimulates the imagination. When you can put yourself in the shoes of a character in a play, write your own story, make a film together, or make your body dance, you rise above your everyday surroundings. I grant that to everyone. Even people who would not get there on their own. For example because they are not familiar with it, or because they think it is not for them. The iktoon campaign shows that culture belongs to and is for everyone and provides a platform for the most diverse and exceptional artistic disciplines and amateur artists.”
Inclusion and diversity
Research shows that there are still people with a distance to art and culture. This depends on origin, age, gender, physical or mental disability, but also on socio-economic status. With the campaign “iktoon – kunst van iedereen” (I show art for everyone), the LKCA, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Fund for Cultural Participation, the VSB Fund and 30 other partners want to change this. That is why the campaign pays special attention to inclusion and diversity. This is reflected in the varied programming throughout the country. Hilversum, for example, is showing a film by a participant about autism, poetic Syrian newcomers are reciting their poems in Haarlemmermeer, and children’s choirs and choirs for the elderly are singing in Tilburg. Full programming can be found at www.iktoon.nl.
National opening iktoonin Hilversum
On Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, 2019, over 700 amateur artists will gather in Hilversum’s monumental Town Hall. Especially for this festive opening of iktoon, composer Ruud Bos, known for his songs for De Fabeltjeskrant (The Cartoonians), wrote an opening composition. More than eleven associations will perform this composition. The Council House is filled with music, photographs, paintings, poems, dance, theater and more art forms during this first weekend of June. Visitors can admire the work of the amateur artists free of charge and try their hand at one of the many workshops. These include a master class in hip-hop and dance, and visitors can make glass jewelry. The complete program of the opening is on iktoon Hilversum.
For more information visit www.iktoon.nl / www.facebook.com/iktoon / www.instagram.com/iktoon2019
