Recap: Across the Border #5 - of the climate crisis

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Focus cinema in Arnhem was packed for the fifth edition of Over de Grens, Cultuur Academy's biannual talk show. This edition was entirely devoted to the climate crisis and the role the arts and culture sector plays - or can play - in it. Host Jelko led the audience in his own energetic way through an afternoon full of insights, stories and concrete tools.

Between top-down vision and bottom-up action

The first guests, Eva Middelhoff (director of Stadsschouwburg and De Vereeniging) and Fanne Boland (policy dramaturg at Theater Oostpool), gave an insight into how large cultural institutions are increasingly weaving sustainability into policy and practice. Eva talked about the sustainable renovation of the theater in which a careful balance is being sought between greening and preserving the monumental value. She also mentioned how the switch to vegetarian meals for staff initially met with resistance. By now, veg is the norm, meat is possible.

Fanne emphasized that sustainability should not only be imposed from the top down, but also supported by employees. "A clear vision from above is necessary," she said, "but the implementation must arise bottom-up." She added that mobility within the sector - from touring companies to audiences - is one of the biggest challenges. The heading "sustainability" was included in Oostpool's annual report for the first time. That she received feedback on this from colleagues - 'shouldn't we do more with this?' - filled her with hope: "It starts with such small steps."

👉 Tip: Laat je ondersteunen door organisaties zoals Daan Duurzaam – zij kunnen helpen met meten, analyseren en adviseren. Samen kom je verder!

Training - Reduce your digital footprint

Tijdens deze interactieve training ontdek je de impact van jouw online activiteiten en krijg je praktische handvatten om deze te verkleinen.

Drinking coffee with...

In het segment Koffiezetapparaat schoven makers en initiatiefnemers aan om in een informele setting hun werk en missie te delen. Daan Walder vertelde over Solemn Venenum, een interactieve digitale installatie over drugsafval. Als organisator van feesten in Nijmegen ziet hij hoe drugsgebruik is genormaliseerd. “Ik wil mensen aanzetten tot bewustzijn, zodat ze hun keuzes bewuster maken.”

👉 Tip: Bezoek ook Queer Utopia in De Vasim — een serie evenementen over queer nachtleven en alternatieve toekomsten.

Deborah Heijne en John Kraft, oprichters van Studio MONK in Nijmegen, vertelden over hun nieuwe ruimte voor kunst en ontmoeting. MONK richt zich op kunstenaars die (nog) geen wortels in Nederland hebben. Ze namen twee kunstenaars mee: Sanaa Haj Kaddour werkt aan een kunstwand geïnspireerd op de seizoenen rond Berg en Dal. Husam Zakaraya besprak zijn film Remslaap, over de menselijke conditie in het Midden-Oosten, geselecteerd voor o.a. het Nederlands Film Festival.

Art as a climate compass

In het tweede deel van het programma kregen verschillende kunstenaars het podium. Hun werk laat op indrukwekkende en soms confronterende wijze zien hoe de klimaatcrisis raakt aan ons dagelijks leven. Fotograaf Milan Schellingerhout maakt fotografische kunst, waaronder Leven met Vitesse en Slippery Slope. Zijn werk toont vergelijkende beelden, zoals de impact van ski-resorts op het landschap. “Ik houd me altijd bezig met hoe ik me verhoud tot mijn werk en probeer te vangen wat ik zie,” vertelt hij. Altijd door de lens van de menselijke blik.

Visual artist Milah van Zuilen works with natural materials - leaves, wood, earth - and creates collages that expose the human-centric nature of the Dutch landscape. She explores how human management and landscaping are visible even in seemingly wild nature. "The climate crisis plays a role, of course," she says, "and brings tension to the work process. But I also look for peace and softness in those hard lines."

As sustainability coordinator, I help cultural organizations grow toward future-proof operations. I believe in the power of culture to make positive impact - not just for today, but for tomorrow's generations.

Here's how to make an impact

Sebastiaan Groffen, sustainability coordinator at Doornroosje, gave concrete tools for measuring impact within cultural organizations. From energy, catering and mobility to use of materials and personnel: how do you actively involve people on the work floor in sustainability? Meanwhile Jelko made a live drawn summary that represented the conversation.

👉 Tip: Iets gemist? Geen zorgen – alles is terug te vinden in onze kennisbank.

Develop strategy on sustainability

There is also a growing urgency in the cultural sector to contribute to a more sustainable future. But how do you tackle this concretely? In this article we look at developing a strategy on sustainability, the resources available to do this and where to find support to actually implement your plans.

Pass 'm through!

As with every edition, "the baton" was passed on to a new organization. This time, Extrapool - founded in 1991 as a studio space, which has since grown into a vibrant venue for music, printmaking and interdisciplinary programs - passed the baton to Ruimtekoers. "Artists are often deployed in a neighborhood to connect," Joyce Guley and Jan Dirk de Wilde of Extrapool tell us. "But Ruimtekoers does that in the right, stimulating way. I want to know more about that."

The afternoon was closed musically by Marina Tadic, a singer and HKU student who has been associated with Extrapool for many years. Aptly described by Joyce Guley as, "persistent, incisive and elusive."

The hall program ran slightly late, but that didn't bother anyone. A well-deserved drink and snack awaited in the foyer. Visitors tested out Daan Walder's installation, chatted and exchanged ideas. An afternoon full of ideas, experiences and inspiration - which hopefully spurred action. Because the question lingers: what can we do for a greener sector?

Meer weten? Bekijk onze kennisbank voor concrete tips, informatie en regel- en wetgeving rondom duurzaamheid in de cultuursector.

Photography: Jesse Wensing