ZOEF

We want to keep going! And with this new goal on the horizon, we're making a few minor adjustments: Cultureel Zwerfgoed* wordt cultureel zwerfgoed. In 2026 and 2027, we'll expand cultureel zwerfgoed to twenty Leger des Heils locations, spread across five regions in the Netherlands. At each location, we'll give three workshops and one public performance, followed by a return visit and a mini-exhibition in the neighborhood. In total, we'll reach approximately 200 participants and 1,000 visitors. In addition to recordings and music boxes, we're developing new forms of collaboration with facilitators and residents to deepen our local impact. This way, we're building a sustainable network in which music strengthens ownership, connection, and humanity, both within and outside of shelters.

cultureel zwerfgoed is made possible in part by the Fonds voor Cultuurparticaptie and the VSBfonds.

We held three workshops and a closing concert at nine locations, reaching a total of 130 to 150 residents. Together with 43 participants and 14 activity leaders, we determined the content and approach during preliminary visits. Six of the nine concerts were open to the public; the external audience of approximately one hundred visitors visibly boosted participants' self-confidence. The collaboration with Leger des Heils was crucial: thanks to their coordination, we were able to combine freedom and direction, and build personal relationships with residents. Our open, vulnerable approach fostered an exchange of equals, in which music became a catalyst for remembrance, growth, and healing.

The impact extended beyond the workshops: participants demonstrated lasting openness and initiative. Several residents began writing their own lyrics or re-participating in activities. Music also proved to be a bridge between residents, leaders, and neighbors. In some cities, public attitudes even shifted from distrust to emotion, such as in Tilburg, where a neighborhood petition disappeared after attending a concert.

These journeys are documented in two documentaries by Pixel Universe. ZOEF and Leger des Heils want to continue and expand the project, convinced of the social value of local connections and human growth.

The pilot project of the previous year was full of heartwarming and meaningful moments: "Many of our residents are depressed and don't see many moments of joy, but you brought a lot of light and joy to our shelter" (coach at one of the shelters ZOEF visited). We would like to build on this and extend the project to even more people. With everything that we've learned from the pilot project, this new phase will be at bigger scale and hopefully reach even more and younger homeless individuals. In close collaboration with the Dutch shelter organization "Leger des Heils", we will visit 10 shelters across the Netherlands, starting in April 2024.

We channeled the untapped cultural talents of homeless individuals in this project, where we coached them in writing their own music. This pilot was a collaboration with Joris Branderhorst (also known as George Kush).

For persons with a mental handicap, music can be a powerful force for connection and inspiration. In this project in 2022, we hope to provide at least 10 performances for these persons, bringing our music and tailor-made performance to them. To make our performances accessible to the whole audience, we include them in the process by involving elements of drawing and improvisation.

Being a student in this time of social isolation is difficult. In this project, we want to reach and connect those students, coming to their doorstep or school and playing custom-made performances for them.

This project is financially supported by the Fonds Podiumkunsten.

In this project, we collaborated with a young Dutch composer to make his dream a reality: recording a CD of his music with a classical ensemble. The album with music by Chiel Nugter can be found on Spotify.

In our first project, we wanted to connect one that was disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: children with special education needs. We made custom musical performances for each occasion and managed to play for hundreds of children, in total.

This project was financially supported by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurmakersfonds.