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Flevoland | August 18, 2022

Helene van 't Hoen: 'Accessible introduction to culture'

"I'm really looking forward to it. It's the first time we're organizing this in Lelystad, and I hope many children will take advantage of this opportunity." Helene van 't Hoen works at the De Kubus Arts and Culture Centre in Lelystad and, in that role, is the producer for Cultuur@CruyffCourts. "We want to show all the children in Lelystad what great activities there are to do in the city. And hopefully, it'll spark a spark. That's the goal, of course!"

Lelystad has a lot to offer in the cultural field. But not everyone knows where to find everything. "That's why Kubus regularly organizes activities where we connect supply and demand, partly with the help of the Youth Fund." Helene van 't Hoen cites the project Discover your own Cultural City"Secondary school students will cycle to various cultural institutions, discovering what Lelystad has to offer. They'll participate in a light and sound workshop at the theater and paint in an artist's studio. And there's more to discover in Lelystad. Children can work with a 3D printer in a studio or take an airbrush course. These are also activities that aren't common knowledge for everyone. We hope to inspire and enthuse. The goal, of course, is for children to then enroll in a workshop or course. This is also the goal of our collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Foundation and the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture: to reach precisely those children who have difficulty finding their way to cultural centers."

Out onto the street

The Arts and Culture Centre De Kubus has long wanted to be more visible in the neighborhoods. "So, for Cultuur@CruyffCourts, we sought collaboration with community workers and approached children on the street, telling them about the opportunities to participate on the court. We opted for three afternoons before the summer holidays and three immediately after. Sports and cultural clubs are often just finishing up or haven't started yet, so we're filling a gap. We're trying to reach parents with flyers and emailing all 38 schools in Lelystad about the activities."

Four creative expressions

This first year, the workshops will be held on and around a single court: the Cruyff Court Aron Winter Field. Perhaps in the future, it will be possible to expand to more Cruyff Courts in the city. This year, there will be four workshops on several Wednesday afternoons in which children can participate. We're starting with four different creative expressions: dance, music, spatial art, and drawing. We think we can inspire many children with this. After the summer, we also want to offer ceramics with a few potters, for example. Literally, with your hands in the clay. Creating something with your hands. That remains magical. We're also going to make a large sidewalk painting, using chalk paint. Each time, there's an outdoor workshop where everyone, including parents, can join in for the entire afternoon to craft and explore with technology. Youth Fund intermediaries will be present on those afternoons to connect with parents and children. They can help through the Youth Fund if children want to continue, but the membership fee is an obstacle. It's important that they connect with the children and ensure that parents know that financial support is available. So, parents remain key when it comes to the next steps. But during the afternoons themselves, the children are the focus. They should have fun and experience new things.

Going out the door happy

"For me, the project would be successful if children were introduced to an activity before the summer and then returned after the summer for a new series. If they leave happy and perhaps want to sign up for a follow-up with a provider in Lelystad. But especially if they've discovered something new about themselves. Then I'm a happy person." What Helene would most like in the follow-up project is a kind of punch card for a year of various creative, cultural activities. "A kind of studio course where children can explore a wide variety of activities. Children are still so open. They're still curious and absorb everything. Hopefully, there's something that resonates with them, something that resonates. You always look for passion and talent. If you can tap into that, preferably at a young age, you can give someone something valuable for life."

Come see us on Wednesday, August 31st, when World Groundmoves Champion and ambassador Nasser El Jackson will open the event. Check out the program here:

Culture@CruyffCourts Lelystad Programme

More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

Photo: Shot By Sylla.