Common Culture 2025 - A year in motion

2025 was a year of building, experimenting and bringing ideas into the world.

Across the city, young makers stepped into museums, cinema, public space and nightlife to explore how culture can be created, shared and reimagined.

Vincent Goes North brought storytelling into public space. From the exhibition at Waterlandplein to collaborations with JCDecaux and during Museumnacht at the Van Gogh Museum, participants translated personal stories into images and words that met audiences beyond museum walls.

With Film School, participants developed and produced their own short films, working alongside professionals from the industry. The first film culminated in a premiere at Pathé, while a second film is currently in the making.

Through Cultuur Krakers, young creatives pitched new concepts for museums, questioning how cultural institutions can connect with younger audiences today. Their work was presented at the Verzetsmuseum, Museum Van Loon and H’ART Museum. One of these concepts, Resistance Lab, was tested as a pilot at the Verzetsmuseum.

With Club Kids, ideas turned into nights on the dancefloor. Participants developed their own club concepts and brought them to life during events like the one at Sissi’s, exploring what it takes to build a night from the ground up.

And with HUBS, we took the music industry into the city. During Amsterdam Dance Event, workshops and talks took place in neighborhoods where ADE is usually less visible, giving young people an accessible introduction to working behind the scenes in music and events.

Across all programs, one thing remained central: creating space for young people to experiment, collaborate and shape culture on their own terms.

And while we look back with pride, much is still in motion. New projects are unfolding, new groups are forming and new stories are taking shape.

Thank you to all participants, partners and collaborators who were part of this year.

We’re already moving forward.