Activities of the Cultuurfabriek
The Cultuurfabriek organizes a number of activities itself or together with other organizations with the aim of residents from Voorschoten actively or passively coming into contact with cultural activities in Voorschoten.
It is our belief that to participate in cultural activities, both as a visitor and as a participant, improves growth, development, and happiness. We utilize our expertise in communication, promotion, and PR to stimulate participation and cooperation within the sector. We promote the interests of cultural organizations in Voorschoten and contribute to the social agenda of the gemeente. You find more detailed information about our activities below. Would you like to learn more? You can find it in our Annual Report (in Dutch).
Organization of activities whitin Voorschoten
The Cultuurfabriek encourages members to participate in joint activities. These activities can be realized by cooperation between members, or can be organized by the Cultuurfabriek itself. By combining their individual activities with one another, organization reach a broader audience.
While organizing joint activities we do not only encourage our members to work together but also also reach out to other organizations in Voorschoten to realize projects. Examples of these projects include: the Cultuurmarkt (joint project with Het Weekend van Voorschoten), Beleven & Ontmoeten in the weeks before Christmas (editions before 2022 in cooperation with the Centrumondernemers), and the Cultuurproeverij (joint project with the Voorschoten Museum, and the Gemeente Voorschoten).
Promotion of local cultural activities
The Cultuurfabriek believes in reaching a broader audience through joint promotion. Therefore the Cultuurfabriek invests in promoting local cultural initiatives. We have multiple options to promote events at our disposal, such as through our own (online) channels, but also through local paper media. It is our goal to help our members use their joint network as efficiently as possible, while also keeping the Voorschoten public informed of cultural activities in the region.
Networking meetings
At least thrice a year the Cultuurfabriek organizes a networking meeting. A number of these meetings are for Cultuurfabriek members only. Occasionally we invite outside parties such as sports- and volunteer organizations, coordinators of community centers, and other guest speakers to take part. During the networking meetings we stimulate our members to form connections and to develop joint projects, both with other members as well as external parties. Next to that the meetings help us to keep our members up to date about cultural developments in Voorschoten.
Once a year the Cultuurfabriek organizes a Cultuurparty for members of its members. The party is a great occasion to get to know each other in an informal setting.
Representaion of interests
The Cultuurfabriek is committed to representing the interests of the local cultural sector. We strive to be a single voice to bring the general interests of the participating organizations to the attention of the gemeente and other agencies. In doing so, we examine whether it is possible to positively influence implemented policies. In 2022, we put cultural themes on the gemeente’s agenda by organizing a Cultuurdebat prior to the gemeenteraad elections. Thanks in part to the Cultuurfabriek, the Cultuurvisie was created, a Cultuurcoördinator has been appointed, and substantive discussions are being held with wethouders and officials on topics such as subsidy policy, cultural accommodations, and getting young people in Voorschoten involved in culture.
Collaboration with other sectors
The Cultuurfabriek encourages its members to become involved in each other’s activities and to seek collaborations with other sectors, such as sports, welfare, healthcare and tourism. In this way, individual activities can be combined, allowing organizations to reach a wider audience.
For example, there are collaborations with the Sporttafel, Het Weekend van Voorschoten, the Gemeente Voorschoten, Voorschoten voor Elkaar, and the Centrumondernemers (center entrepreneurs). Some of the projects that came about thanks to these collaborations are: the Voorschoten Awards (Sports-, culture- and volunteer awares), the OdenseHuis Orchestra, The Cultuurmarkt during Het Weekend van Voorschoten, and various performances in the center of Voorschoten.
School and Environment
The Cultuurfabriek is committed to increasing cultural education and -participation within Voorschoten.
For this it is of great importance that schools, in addition to offering cultural education, collaborate sustainably with their environment and the cultural field. This creates a connection between cultural education in and outside of school, which can lead to new (inter)cultural events and cultural participation.
In cooperation with the -Cultuureducatiegroep Holland Rijnland, the Cultuurfabriek will conduct exploratory talks with principals of the 8 elementary school in Voorschoten in 2023. The goal of these talks is to arrive at a joint project.