WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PROJECT AND WHO IS THE TARGET GROUP?

As questions of cultural identity and normative 'national' values become ever more of an issue in political and cultural debate, Be[com]ing Dutch asks whether art can offer alternative examples of thinking about how we can live together today. Be[com]ing Dutch seeks to put our ideas of cultural identity under pressure and examine the process of inclusion and exclusion in the world today.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT INCLUDE?

At the end of January 2007, organiserslaunched the project Be[com]ing Dutch at the Van Abbemuseum with The Gatherings a weekend of talks, debates and art projects and presentations. Organisers presented and debated Be[com]ing Dutch to a wide variety of interdisciplinary audiences, including academics, artists and social actors locally, nationally and internationally. This open conversation will continue. Several collaborative projects will run through November 2008 with the project's partners (see timeline).

This leads up to an intensive three-week international Caucus from 9th November until 2nd December 2007. The final phase was a large-scale exhibition of newly commissioned works in the Van Abbemuseum in May 2008. Publication is due in November 2008.

In autumn 2008, the project will become part of the series of the museum documentary exhibitions as an extension of the Living Archive. This Be[com]ing Dutch display in the tower of the museum will be the place where visitors can follow all of the projects that have happened so far and track the project's ongoing developments.

HOW IS THE PROJECT FINANCED?

Be[com]ing Dutch was announced by the Mondriaan Stichting as the winner of the 'Development Prize for Cultural Diversity'. It is supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union.