SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS ART-INITIATIVES IN UTRECHT
Stichting Das Spectrum is an Utrecht based peer support platform focused on facilitating connection and mutual support between local artists and grassroots art-initiatives.
With our peer support program we facilitate meetings for peers to share experiences and insights around building and sustaining artistic practices, in the midst of a precarious world.
Hope to see you soon at one of our peer support meetings, nongkrong sessions or Stormhoek events!
"With our peer support program we reflect upon the precarious world we live in, how it affects (y)our mental health and the resilience needed to support ourselves."
Mitchel Breed - Initiator of Stichting Das Spectrum (2020-present) & former member of Das Spectrum (2011-2018)
.
How to sustain (y)our artistic practice(s) in the midst of precarious world?
a Peer Support Program:
In 2025 we are funded to organize, host and facilitate for a new yearly program of meetings, hangouts and talks!
Peer Support
Monthly Peer Support Meetings
Meet-ups with fellow artists and creatives, supporting ourselves as well as each other. During the course of 8 monthly meetings we reflect upon the precarious conditions of living, working and surviving within the contemporary art-world, as well as the cultural sector at large. These meetings are not result-oriented and aim to offer a safe space to share our individual experiences and insights.
Together in small groups, with a maximum of 12 participants, each meeting is structured around themes like the pressure to perform, sustaining ourselves and fundraising. We combine this with some peer support tools like checking-in: ‘How do you feel in this current moment in life?’ and we reflect upon what we can do to support ourselves, in life as well as in art.
Are you interested in joining? Check our agenda for dates, details and to subscribe for one, or several , meetings!
Nongkrongen
Hanging out at Local Art-Initiatives
Join us at our Indonesian inspired hangouts, sharing drinks and snacks with (y)our peers. Hosted by alternating art-initiatives, in and around the city of Utrecht. These informal meetings invite local artists, creatives and their peers to hangout together. Simply spending some time together, without the pressure of being productive. Offering a moment and a space, for getting to know each-other a bit better.
These events are inspired by the Indonesian word nongkrong, literally translated as “sitting around because you’re not doing any work”. The process of nongkrong describes the act of hanging out, of social, mutual space and slow time (especially in Java, it acts as ‘‘social glue’’). In the Dutch context it is something we, somewhat ironically, actively have to make time and space for! (Source: Sonja Dahl)
Are you interested in joining? Check our agenda to stay updated about our upcoming nonkrong sessions!
Stormhoek
Presenting Grassroots Art-Initiatives
Dynamic talks by local art-initiatives, presenting their projects and artistic practice(s). Once a year we (try) to organize our Stormhoek event, during which we invite artists and creatives to present their art-initiatives and their respective projects to a small audience. Each speaker gets 10 minutes to give a short presentation about their initiative and afterwards they receive a bottle of ‘Stormhoek’ wine. With the invitation of sharing it with the audience, fueling further conversations.
Stormhoek originated in 2014 at Das Spectrum, with further origins at art-school, under the name Sixpack. Originally initiated by Jop Vissers Vorstenbosch and Corine Zomer, the format has been passed on to different initiators and in the last years Stichting Das Spectrum is continuing its legacy! (Our upcoming edition in August is curated by the Outsiders & LDD).
Did you miss our edition of 2022 and 2023? Then you are in luck, since you can listen back to our audio-recordings! Go to our Archive to learn more about past editions, and check our Agenda for future ones!
Subscribe & Follow:
You are very welcome to join our program! Look below to follow us, and to subscribe to our newsletter:
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
Sign up here if you want to be kept up to date about our upcoming peer support program for 2025!
We are currently supported by:
Our yearly program of 2025/2026 is generously supported by:
Almost all photo’s on this website are made by © Neeltje Kleijn.
Follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter or send us an e-mail:
© 2025 Stichting Das Spectrum
