As Dutch defense spending reaches unprecedented highs and artistic freedom narrows under political pressure, the question is no longer whether artists can stay neutral, but whether neutrality itself sustains violence. While Europe is re-arming itself in the face of new geopolitical tensions, the Netherlands has quietly shifted billions from cultural and social budgets into defense spending. Artists, educators and cultural workers find themselves again among those most affected by austerity. Parts of the cultural sector have also become complicit, from state-funded cultural diplomacy to exhibitions and partnerships that sanitise or normalise militarisation.

How are artists and institutions in the Dutch visual arts scene entangled with the expanding military-industrial logic? How do cultural programmes, exhibitions and the general visual arts discourse participate, knowingly or not, in ‘art-washing’ state militarism? What can history teach us from earlier moments when artists were mobilised in the service of the state? What tools of resistance still exist when refusal itself becomes criminalised?

Following the publishing of Alina Lupu’s article ‘Up in Arms’, Platform BK, together with Alina Lupu and Jacobin NL organise a public event to bring the topic of artwashing and militarisation into the physical public realm. This event brings together artists, writers, researchers, and cultural worker’s collectives to explore the resurgence of artist initiatives that refuse to remain neutral, while examining the politics of cultural exchange and state budget cuts. We review and assess the different strategies of dialogue, interventions and refusals which the invited contributors have been engaged in. What have we achieved until now and what are the new frontlines we are facing?

There will be contributions from Alina Lupu, Wendela de Vries (Stop Wapenhandel), Jouke Huijzer (Jacobin NL), Dewi Sofia (Balik/bayan), Sruti Bala (Cultural Boycott Israel), Anika Schwarzlose and more.

→ Reserve your spot via Pakhuis de Zwijger

Note: We have set aside a budget to support artists and attendees. Please send an email to info@platformbk.nl if:

– You have made posters, banners or protest props that relate to this topic and would like to show it during the event.
– You want to attend the event but feel restricted due to iftar timing or transportation costs.