THE PHENIX FOUNDATION
Policy Plan
summary
Changes
in Culture The
continuous and increasing influx of immigrants over the past fifty years has
had a visible effect on the cultural scene in the Netherlands. Not only the streetscape is changing,
clothing and hairdos, but so are eating habits, entertainment, language and
music. In numerous areas manifestations
have been stirred into action. Especially in the big cities in the Randstad (West-Holland conurbation) a
new cultural reality has emerged that calls for changes to cultural and art
policies; changes, however, that for the major part must still be set in
motion. The Phenix Foundation, hereinafter .
Phenix. , has been set up to improve this situation. Literally, its objective reads as follows:
Objective
Phenix is an
organisation that wishes to award a more prominent place to the profusion of
cultures in the Netherlands in the arts on offer.
In doing so, Phenix focuses mostly, but not exclusively on
the maker whose roots lie in a culture other than the Dutch one, the artist who
wishes to make a way in the professional Dutch art world.
Partners The task Phenix
has set itself is as challenging as it is extensive, for the organisation
addresses the entire spectre ranging from sculpture, performing arts, design,
fashion and literature to music, film and other media as well as any other new
forms arising from one of the many cultures the Netherlands boasts.
No
Subsidies Phenix
seeks to attain its objective without wishing to assume the responsibilities of
the existing funds and government agencies.
This includes the responsibility for financing. Phenix is explicitly no subsidy-granting
agency: for financing, artists from ethnic and cultural minority communities
must still rely on the existing government and private funds. Phenix, however, does intend to introduce
some improvements at these funds and agencies to optimise the service to
artists whose roots lie in another culture.
This will take some time, however.
Instruments With
a minimum of procedures, Phenix is an organisation
characterised by a large degree of creativity and
flexibility.
To encourage change and offer temporary solutions for
good initiatives that are now in danger of falling
between
two stools, Phenix employs three instruments:
1. Phenix
renders advice to . budding . artists on financing and cultural
infrastructure. Where necessary and
possible, the Phenix Consultant can offer three types of services: guidance in
the making of plans and filing of applications, mediation and skills training.
2. Phenix
wishes to enhance the supply of arts by actively approaching promising talents
and their activities. For this purpose Phenix engages
. Mediators. : artists, producers and others who are aware of the
on-going developments in their field of expertise with regard to new
initiatives and talents. In addition to the Mediators,
Phenix also has the . Masters. .
These are respected artists or producers from the art sector who have a
background in a non-Western culture.
The appreciation of their work in terms of diversity is reflected in Phenix. s invitation
to develop projects within Phenix as a . Master. .
3. Phenix
endeavours to be a platform for the exchange and joining of experience and
expertise. This platform can come up with
solutions to problems that interfere with the development of a culturally
diverse supply.
Informal
Network Phenix
wants to be practise-based, and as a learning organisation needs feedback. On many issues Phenix will cooperate with
cultural agencies and people in the field.
They will form an informal network of advisors, professionals who are
committed to the culturally varied society and who are prepared to use their
know-how and network to advise and assist Phenix.
Cooperation The cooperation with local, provincial
and national authorities, funds, training institutes, the media, art and
cultural institutions is one of Phenix. s basic principles. The responsibilities assumed by Phenix must
eventually be taken over by the existing infrastructure. If not, a separate sub-culture will develop of
artists with a different background, which will undo Phenix. s efforts.
Where
possible, Phenix will work together with other parties that have been
instituted to effect changes, such as the Atana-programme and the Cultural
Diversity Network.
The Sources of Diversity Diversity
in the arts is inconceivable without sources in many cultures. Many artists from ethnic and cultural
minority communities are interested in cultural developments in their countries
of origin, such as Suriname or the Dutch Antilles, but also in other countries
in which artists live with the same cultural background: to a Moroccan artist,
for instance, cultural changes in Morocco can be just as important as the
practice of Moroccan art in France.
These are major sources of inspiration.
Phenix would like to invite artists from those cultures to the
Netherlands to give master classes or workshops, to enable a more profound
knowledge of different cultural manifestations.
Organisation Phenix has set up office in the
cultural heart of Rotterdam.
A modest
organisation with a staff of four, who have high
ideals and are
curious to learn what is going on in the
cultural scene.
Phenix is a joint initiative of the Fonds voor de
Podiumkunsten, Stichting PodiumKunstWerk, Fonds voor de Amateurkunst,
Mondriaanstichting and VSB-fonds, who have gained the support of the Ministry
of Education, Culture and Science. The Foundation.
s basic financing has been secured for the next four years.
***
Text:
Han Bakker
Amsterdam, 30 August 2001
