Updates overview

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science visits Noorderlicht

8 Oct 2026

On Wednesday, 7 October, THEA, led by iRoosje Klap and Dorine Schreurs, had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The delegation included Youssef Louakili, Director-General for Culture and Media, alongside Suzanne Hafidi-Gevers, Vanessa Evers, Eef Masson and Marieke Ladru.

The conversation began with a LinkedIn post by Youssef Louakili raising the question of what AI means for art, culture and society, and continued in Groningen at THEA in the former Niemeyer factory.

Together, we explored Thinking Hands, the exhibition created by Noorderlicht, featuring artist-researchers Vera van der Burg and Kévin Bray.

Our thanks to the Municipality of Groningen, alderwoman Janette Bosma, Harry Wieringa, Sander Rispens, Brecht van Eyndhoven, Nora Leidinger and Robbert de Groot, and to the Province of Groningen, Nicolette Boelens and Els van den Berg. We would also like to thank Dorothea van der Meulen and city poet Jaimy Hindriks.

The roundtable discussion also brought together Jakob Klompien, Ineke Ganzeveld, Johan Kolsteeg, Elsa Weelink, Irene Louwrier and Rosa Wevers, with Marijke Roskam as moderator.

Roosje Klap opened the conversation with her address, From Imagination to Infrastructure, a response to the Council for Culture’s advisory report. Culture is not just the fuel that powers AI; it can also help shape its direction. First, we need to imagine a different digital life. Then we can build it.

It was an open and thoughtful conversation about the role of culture at a time when AI is profoundly transforming our daily lives. We discussed legislation struggling to keep pace with technological developments, and how culture can make AI tangible and show that it affects every one of us. This requires both imagination and computing power: we have the data; now we need the imagination.

At the former Niemeyer factory, we are demonstrating that another approach is possible: through shared facilities, community ownership and a collective governance model in which THEA has a place.

Thank you to everyone who contributed so openly to the conversation. This is just the beginning.