How to: Freelancer Day

Everything you need to know as a new freelancer in the cultural sector—all covered in just one day!

The Cultuur Academy to Be a Freelancer” Day is back! You’ve finished your training and are about to start your career as a creator, performer, organizer, or creative thinker. Assignments are coming in, but what does it actually mean to be a freelancer? Where do you start? What do you need to take care of, what’s best to leave alone, and how do you ensure you present yourself well and protect yourself?

During this event, you’ll get clear explanations, practical tools, and honest answers to questions you might not even have known you had. You’ll meet other newcomers, expand your network, and get tips you can really put to use.

After this training

• Do you know what is involved in being a zzp and have basic knowledge.
• Met other start-up self-employed people and expanded your network in an approachable way.
• Got to choose from several workshops where your knowledge will be brushed up on pricing, presenting yourself, networking and work-life balance.

Program

How do you actually negotiate your hourly rate or fee? And how do you make sure you fill self-employment in a healthy way, with less stress and enough space for yourself? This day is a practical how-to pressure cooker for starting self-employed people. We will cover the 'hard skills' such as invoicing and setting up your administration, but also go into important topics such as negotiating and monitoring your work-life balance when you're your own boss.

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Welcome & Introduction to Self-Employment (plenary session)
Moniek Klabbers
What does it actually mean to be self-employed? Moniek takes you through the life of a self-employed person. What are the basics, and how do you get started? From registering with the Chamber of Commerce to bookkeeping, VAT returns, and more.

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Workshop Session 1 (choose from):

• You Can Learn How to Build Your Personal Brand - Amber van den Heuvel
  How do you present yourself in a powerful and authentic way? Get started with building your personal brand and sharing your story.
• "Know Your Worth - (Cultuur+Ondernemen)"
  What do you charge for your work? Learn how to set your rates and negotiate effectively.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch break Bring your own lunch and share it with your fellow new hires. 

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Workshop Session 2 (choose from):

• Networking - Jesper Pouw
  Practical and accessible: how do you make connections, build relationships, and maintain your network?
• Make Sure You're Visible - Belinda Limani
  How can you make sure you're visible? What communication tools can you use, which ones suit you best, and how can you keep people informed about what you have to offer?

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. In-Depth: The Other Side of Being a Freelancer (plenary session)
Moniek Klabbers
Now that you’ve got the basics covered, we’ll move on to important, often-overlooked topics such as disability, insurance, and retirement.

Afterward, several experienced cultural freelancers will share their biggest mistakes, learning moments, and unexpected twists. Honest, informative, and with a touch of humor.

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Closing drinks
Chat, share insights, and enjoy a well-deserved beer together.

For whom.

For anyone who wants to start as a self-employed person in the cultural sector, has just started or has been working for a while and needs more grip, direction or confidence. Whether you are a creator, organizer, player, thinker or doer: be welcome!

About the trainers

Moniek Klabbers is a program producer at Cultuur Academy, a project manager at the Stadsschouwburg Nijmegen and Concertgebouw de Vereeniging, and has been Groeispurt charge Groeispurt the Groeispurt for the past four years. As a freelance cultural professional, she has been working for over ten years for many different organizations in a variety of roles and positions. As a cultural entrepreneur, she has experience collaborating within a general partnership (VOF) and managing a team of freelancers.

Amber van den Heuvel is a visual artist and cultural connector in Arnhem. She works as a project manager and program developer at The Hub, focusing on supporting young artists as they transition from education to professional practice. She is also involved in collaborations with, among others, the City of Arnhem, ArtEZ, the Koppig collective, Bureau Ruimtekoers, and Cultuur Academy. As a co-founder of Kunstradar, she is committed to raising the profile of art and culture in Gelderland. In 2024, she completed her master’s degree in Creative Industries, with the goal of empowering artists at the policy level as well.

Jesper Pouw is an artist-educator who uses theater in various social contexts. He employs theater and connection to explore identity through a problem-oriented approach. What issues are at play in a community? How can one reflect on them through a creative process? Art and education are powerful tools for envisioning new possibilities in a changing world. Jesper has worked in the Netherlands, Belfast, and Rabat, where he engaged with various communities.

Belinda Limani is an experienced all-around marketer in the cultural sector. She works as a freelancer for a wide range of organizations. Currently, she is active as a marketer for Cultuur Academy, specializing in online marketing.

Krista Heijster develops business programs for artists and creatives for Cultuur+Ondernemen, such as the “Route Ondernemerschap” learning program, podcasts, and knowledge guides. In the past, she has set up many art projects in the healthcare sector, and in addition to her work at Cultuur+Ondernemen, she runs her own coaching practice.

Practical information

Date: September 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Cost: €25, including VAT.
Location: De Basis, Groenewoudseweg 322, Nijmegen
Participants: maximum of 20

Would you like more information on this topic in advance? Then read the knowledge base article on starting your own business.

Sign up and more information

The programs of Cultuur Academy not only offer depth in specific areas of knowledge. In our activities you also always meet other culture professionals from the Arnhem-Nijmegen region. The mutual exchange of experience and knowledge and the expansion of your network within the sector are a valuable by-product of your participation in our programs.

Do you have any questions or would you like additional information? Please contact Moniek Klabbers. Do you have practical questions, such as about registration or the location? Please contact us at info@cultuuracademy.nl. By registering for one of our programs, you agree to our terms and conditions.