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Breakout session critics

The Kring van Nederlandse Theatercritici invites you to a thought-provoking conversation about arts criticism, solidarity, and collective power.

How can freelance critics — often working in precarious conditions — organize, support one another, and shape a more sustainable future for their craft? And how can we continue to learn from each other’s perspectives, approaches, and experiences?

The work of a theatre critic is often seen as a solitary calling. Unlike most other professionals in the performing arts, critics usually work alone — especially freelancers, who now make up the vast majority of the field. This isolation brings specific challenges: you stand alone when negotiating working conditions, and without regular exchange with peers, the risk of tunnel vision increases.

But what if we break that pattern? Can we learn from recent collective initiatives by dramaturgs, actors, and scenographers? What forms of solidarity already exist — and what more do we need?

During this session, we’ll explore these questions together. We’ll share inspiring examples from the Netherlands and Belgium, and consider how critics too can harness the power of the collective.

An open invitation to connect, be seen, and move forward —together.

This programme is part of Solidarity as Strategy and is available as a free add-on.