June 22, 2022

Carla (Theaters in the Netherlands): 'Culture is essential'

"Every child should have the opportunity to experience culture in their lifetime. Culture enriches your life, and I want everyone to experience that!" Carla van der Veen, along with her partner Jan Klijn and their team, is responsible for Theaters in the Netherlands, a platform that spotlights local theater productions in the Netherlands. "A website, a theater newspaper, a mobile promotional tour, social media attention. We do everything we can to fill the theaters! And with that, we sponsor the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture. A win-win situation, if you ask me."

Fifteen years ago, the website Theaters in the Netherlands was launched. "We felt there was a need for a site where you could view local theaters' offerings by city or province. Visitors can search for a great show by city. No more surfing through different theater websites, but all the information in one place. The goal is full houses, a thriving and vibrant theater scene, and an easy way for visitors to find information," says Carla. All Dutch theaters now share their programs, and the site has been supplemented with reviews, information from producers, and industry news. "We also regularly distribute a newsletter to 15,000 subscribers. We're now also producing a local theater newspaper filled with relevant information for each city. And every Saturday, we have a large LED trailer driving around various cities to promote the theaters. They post content on it to promote full houses, and we simultaneously promote the Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur (Youth Fund for Sports & Culture)."

It does something to you

Carla loves theater. "Yes, of course! Culture in the Netherlands is close to my heart. There's so much to see, do, and experience in the theater. There are inspiring performances, moving, relaxing, and funny moments in the theater. You're transported to another world for a moment. And that's beautiful. As far as I'm concerned, culture sparks your creative juices. It does something to you. That could be music, dance, theater, or some other form of expression, but it resonates. And for children, that's essential for their development. That's why we want all children in the Netherlands to have access to culture. Playing an instrument is an expensive hobby. Even a drama club or a dance studio can't exist without membership fees. So we want money not to be a barrier for children to join and experience the benefits. Clearing your head, relaxing, making friends, having an outlet, interacting with children with similar interests, playing together—all aspects that play a role. It truly enriches your life when you can experience cultural expressions." And we want that for all children.'

Positive inspiration

That's why the Theaters in the Netherlands platform is also making a conscious decision to donate to the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture. "We were looking for a charity that aligned with our mission: positive inspiration, putting culture on the map, and selling out theaters. The Youth Fund makes it possible for every child to experience this. And that, in our view, is incredibly valuable. And especially in this post-corona era, reopening the world is so crucial. We'd love to shout it from the rooftops: culture is absolutely essential!"

More about Theaters in the Netherlands