About
De Voorkamer was first developed in reaction to the negative responses to the arrival of asylum seekers in the Netherlands. It opened its doors in Utrecht in 2016, creating a cultural meeting space to promote inclusion and redefine integration. At De Voorkamer use co-creation to stimulate and facilitate the talents of our diverse community.
We aim for this initiative to grow through the ideas and efforts of all members of our community. We do this by working with small groups to establish creative and valuable connections through which to share and exchange inspiration and talents. In collaboration with our community, we design meetings and projects that bring our space to life and create events and objects that facilitate our activities. Many of the projects we have realized were born from the fascinations and interests of our community, including our weekly language cafes and game nights, storytelling events, art/design projects, music and cooking events, and many more.
De Voorkamer is based on equality and individuality. It creates a framework for participants to work on assignments that fit them, that are meaningful to them, and that shape valuable personal connections. Our main goal is to create a safer place where people can express their thoughts, feelings, and knowledge, whilst exchanging experiences to form connections and a network.
De Voorkamer is an initiative developed by social designers and researchers Pim van der Mijl and Shay Raviv and realized by Stichting Collective Nouns. Its first concept was developed as a graduation project from the Design Academy Eindhoven, but from the start, it is sustained by the efforts of a huge group of people from an equally large spectrum of society.
At De Voorkamer we work with creative processes and cultural practices to develop an inclusive space, with the goal of bridging the gaps between different groups in society. We believe the role of arts and culture in the initiative is to encourage and stimulate participation and exchange: both crucial ingredients for inclusion and social cohesion. These mediums are our way to connect people, actively going against othering and labeling.
* When we refer to our “community” we refer to those involved in regularly organizing, hosting, creating our space and content, and attending the activities taking place in and by our space. The members of the community have different interests but also share common values. With the aim of hosting an inclusive program, we collaborate with neighbors, Utrecht-based creatives, asylum-seeking center residents, students, local social and cultural organizations, and always keep our doors open to spontaneous encounters!
De Voorkamer’s take on inclusion and integration:
● We refuse to consider integration as cultural assimilation. Instead, we see the importance of creating and sustaining connections, dialogue, and exchanges where different cultural expressions can take place in order to learn from each other and grow toward a more inclusive society.
● We believe integration cannot be achieved solely by making people follow impersonal procedures and regulations; rather it is realized in an individual's sense of belonging.
● We oppose any practice which involves othering, labeling, and exoticizing individuals or communities. Instead, we recognize that identities are complex and layered.
Read more about De Voorkamer’s Mision & Vision and our Safer Space Policy.
De Voorkamer is supported by:
About
De Voorkamer was first developed in reaction to the negative responses to the arrival of asylum seekers in the Netherlands. It opened its doors in Utrecht in 2016, creating a cultural meeting space to promote inclusion and redefine integration. At De Voorkamer use co-creation to stimulate and facilitate the talents of our diverse community.
We aim for this initiative to grow through the ideas and efforts of all members of our community. We do this by working with small groups to establish creative and valuable connections through which to share and exchange inspiration and talents. In collaboration with our community, we design meetings and projects that bring our space to life and create events and objects that facilitate our activities. Many of the projects we have realized were born from the fascinations and interests of our community, including our weekly language cafes and game nights, storytelling events, art/design projects, music and cooking events, and many more.
De Voorkamer is based on equality and individuality. It creates a framework for participants to work on assignments that fit them, that are meaningful to them, and that shape valuable personal connections. Our main goal is to create a safer place where people can express their thoughts, feelings, and knowledge, whilst exchanging experiences to form connections and a network.
De Voorkamer is an initiative developed by social designers and researchers Pim van der Mijl and Shay Raviv and realized by Stichting Collective Nouns. Its first concept was developed as a graduation project from the Design Academy Eindhoven, but from the start, it is sustained by the efforts of a huge group of people from an equally large spectrum of society.
At De Voorkamer we work with creative processes and cultural practices to develop an inclusive space, with the goal of bridging the gaps between different groups in society. We believe the role of arts and culture in the initiative is to encourage and stimulate participation and exchange: both crucial ingredients for inclusion and social cohesion. These mediums are our way to connect people, actively going against othering and labeling.
* When we refer to our “community” we refer to those involved in regularly organizing, hosting, creating our space and content, and attending the activities taking place in and by our space. The members of the community have different interests but also share common values. With the aim of hosting an inclusive program, we collaborate with neighbors, Utrecht-based creatives, asylum-seeking center residents, students, local social and cultural organizations, and always keep our doors open to spontaneous encounters!
● We refuse to consider integration as cultural assimilation. Instead, we see the importance of creating and sustaining connections, dialogue, and exchanges where different cultural expressions can take place in order to learn from each other and grow toward a more inclusive society.
● We believe integration cannot be achieved solely by making people follow impersonal procedures and regulations; rather it is realized in an individual's sense of belonging.
● We oppose any practice which involves othering, labeling, and exoticizing individuals or communities. Instead, we recognize that identities are complex and layered.
Read more about De Voorkamer’s Mision & Vision and our Safer Space Policy.
De Voorkamer is supported by: