Review of Talkshow Over the Border #4: 'From your own generation'
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the fourth edition of the talk show "Across the Border" took place. This time we focused on the valuable but sometimes challenging collaboration between different generations in the cultural sector. In the inspiring NYMA makerspace we gathered to explore prejudices, hear diverse (work) stories and learn from each other's experiences.
Our regular host, Jelko Arts, opened the talk show, as always, full of optimism and energy. Right away, the big question was raised: Which generation do we actually belong to? And what does that mean for our collaboration with other creative professionals?
Cross-generational collaboration
As the first guests, Jan-Wieger van den Berg and Jade Kerste from the Besiendershuis in Nijmegen had the chance to answer the question right away. Despite their thirty-year age difference, they work together like a well-oiled machine. They emphasize that they complement each other rather than focusing on their differences. Jade says, “Jan-Wieger can make up for the things I’m not good at, like making phone calls, which I find pretty intimidating as a millennial.” Jan-Wieger confirms this and adds that he’s happy to have Jade, who’s well-versed in modern communication, organization, and networking. This makes their collaboration both more effective and more dynamic in today’s cultural sector.
Youth Participation and Coffee
Jade and Jan-Wieger were followed by Liselot Peereboom, coordinator of Kunstbende Gelderland, and Guusje de Bruin, a participant in Cultuur Academy’s training program“Get Involved in the Cultural Sector.”During the segment “By the Coffee Machine,” Liselot explained how she effectively reaches young people between the ages of 13 and 18. “If you can connect with young people by tapping into their interests, they’re anything but lazy.”
Generations on Meaning
Stephan Ummelen, the next guest, advises organizations through his firm Waardengedreven on identity, culture, ethics, and credibility in the “economy of meaning.” He points out that the most obvious differences between Gen Z and older generations are found primarily in the area of meaning. Using a series of statements, he has the audience vote on their job satisfaction. “Just because generations approach work differently doesn’t mean they don’t want to do the work. You have to have a conversation about how it can be organized.”
And the baton goes to…
As always, the baton is being passed on to a promising creative organization or individual. This time, it’s Leonne Verweij’s turn from the production house Plaatsmaken in Arnhem, who is passing the baton to KNUST, Extrapool’s stencil workshop and publishing house in Nijmegen. Why? “They’ve played a major role in the riso-print community and are traveling the world with their impressive knowledge and technique.” As the icing on the cake, writer Hannah Chris Loomans will read a beautiful excerpt from her poetry collection *een lichaam dragen*.
The Child in All of Us
Next in the spotlight are Marjolein Visser, author of the book *Voor altijd ons kind*(Forever Our Child), among other works, and Kim Tuerlings, a dancer with the Arnhemse Meisjes Dance Collective. They speak with Jelko about creating art for different age groups. Kim: “If you can hold onto your inner child, it doesn’t matter how old you are to create inspiring art for children.”
Creators in the Spotlight
Finally, we enjoyed three performances by artists from different generations and disciplines. Chelsea Oost, a spoken-word performer and rapper, spoke about generational differences and how we can learn from one another instead of working against each other. Playwright Jibbe Willems shared a bit of wisdom through a text he wrote specifically for this edition of Over de Grens. An excerpt:
Yet we tend to confine ourselves within our own generation; to view our predecessors as guardians of tradition and our successors as iconoclasts—unreachable and unapproachable, the former too conservative and the latter too progressive—while we ourselves, as the sensible middle ground, the sole source of balance, miss the moment when we leap from too green to too ripe, risking rot as we reach for the unattainable; for that which we are not.
Rocco Ostermann, a musician from Arnhem who was named a hero of the city in 2023, is winning our hearts alongside the very young vocalist Omar Alshahari, whom he met at the AZC Grave during the De Niemanders 2 project. It’s the perfect moment to have a drink together and chat about what we’ve heard and seen.
The next Over de Grens event will take place on March 20, 2025. Sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss a thing!
