Collaboration: in search of meaningful memory

The Prince Claus Conservatoire, Research Centre Art & Society and Westerbork Memorial have entered into a five-year collaboration from 2024 to 2029. In this collaboration, the institutes jointly develop and research contemporary, artistic forms of commemoration and remembrance.

In the coming years, we will explore the added value the arts can have in (re)telling stories from the past. All three parties see a key role for musicians, artists and arts educators in this. The interpretation of the arts has the potential to bring the various places and stories close by and add an extra sensory layer to the experience of the next generation of visitors to Westerbork Memorial.

The development of the productions and the associated educational learning environments for students, take shape in an inquisitive manner. The development of artistic concepts - and the resulting musical and educational roles - are informed by and documented for research by Research Centre Art & Society.

First productions have already taken place. For example, a number of international Master of Music students have worked as ‘artists in residence’ on the grounds of the former Westerbork Memorial. This resulted in audiovisual work that was presented as an exhibition at the Westerbork Memorial. Furthermore, the flute class and the singing class of the Prince Claus Conservatoire worked around the theme ‘Musicians Remember Musicians’, commemorating musicians who were interned at the camp. The students created a joint composition based on the stories of these musicians. They performed this composition at the former camp site.