These topics were all a key part of my week at the Oerol Festival on Terschelling. This year, I didn’t just gorge on the amazing performances. I also joined many sessions of the program for professionals. Here are some of my key reflections on this week, combining my passion for sustainability and the arts.
🪧All artists are activists
Many festival performances touched on important societal issues like climate change, diversity/equity/inclusion, mental health, and biodiversity. For example, Collectief Blauwdruk staged a play in which Amsterdam is flooded due to climate change.
During a workshop on artistic freedom and responsibility, some argued that some art is just there for art’s sake. Yet, even that can be viewed as taking a stand against consumerism and a constant call for return on investment. Not every artist felt comfortable with the “activist” label, but the panel urged makers to continue taking a stand for what matters to them.
🏛️Artistic freedom is a foundation of democracy
The Dutch Council for Culture (Raad voor Cultuur) published a report about the increasing pressure on the artistic freedom of artists and institutions. Similar to the pressure on journalism, academia, and other domains in which “different opinions, interests, perspectives, and ideas must be able to be expressed freely, to clash, and to be weighed against one another in the public interest.” Tension and friction don’t have to be problematic, as they offer opportunities for engagement and discussion. According to the council, “art can act as both a mirror and a window,” providing a cornerstone of democratic society worth protecting.
✋ Consider your handprint as well as your footprint
So often, artists are asked about their footprint, like the CO2 emissions and the circularity of their props. Yet, the larger impact often lies in the handprint of shining light on important topics and inspiring people to do something about them. Such as making the silent majority more vocal, helping to reach the social tipping point of approximately 25% needed for real change. Great to hear that this is also being integrated into the roadmap for the sustainable arts.
💗Dream big!
Apparently, Oerol founder Joop Mulder often used the quote: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.” Walking artist Ali Pretty guided us on an early-morning walk, facilitating reflection and discussion on key questions such as “How should we live?” and “What is sacred?” Great through starters for boosting those dreams!
🤏Yet don’t sweat the small stuff
It’s inspiring to find some nice ways to reduce our footprint. A local bakery sold leftover holiday chocolate letters as chocolate chunks. Our hotel offered a “library” of beach toys for guests to use instead of buying their own. And there were many opportunities around the island to find great second-hand books and clothes.
It was great to join the festival for a week. Spending time with friends, soaking up nature, sun and rain, building new connections and boosting my convictions to keep contributing to and fighting for a better world – through projects, interim roles and board roles in the arts.
Marjolein Baghuis wrote this post for the Change in Context blog. It was also posted on LinkedIn. To read interviews with interesting people, book reviews, and other posts about change, leadership, and sustainability, please subscribe.