Utrecht’s helpdesk for creative initiatives
We are HET PUNT, an independent helpdesk run by a team of facilitators that helps cultural initiatives pave a way out of the corona crisis. We collect ideas and opportunities, make art possible in unique places in Utrecht, connect makers and initiators with the contacts they need to help their ideas come to life, and support artists in their search for a stage. Or vice versa.
Are you looking for a location or funding for your art but encountering obstacles or don’t know where to start? Maybe you have an available space where culture can flourish again?
Fill in the form and let us know. We’ll help you make it happen.
Share your idea, plan, project or question here. If you don’t have any big plans, but you can offer a location where creativity and culture can blossom: do let us know!
Don’t feel like filling in this form?
You can also send an email to info@hetpuntutrecht.nl!
FAQ
HET PUNT is a pilot program which originated in the cultural sector and is supported by the municipality of Utrecht. You can see us as a team of facilitators or matchmakers that aims to get Utrecht’s cultural sector back in motion. We bridge the gap between the demand for – and the supply of – locations and subsidies needed to realise cultural initiatives in the city.
We’re like a finger on Utrecht’s pulse and know the inner workings of the city council. And we use that knowledge to help makers, initiators, artists, producers, entrepreneurs and other creatives from the Domstad find the right contacts in our network or at the municipality. Whether they need to obtain a permit, find their way to a fund or subsidies, or find spaces where art and culture – or maybe your project – can flourish. So, do you have a great idea but are you encountering problems? Let us know, we will try and help you make it happen!
No, but we can help you find possibilities, contacts or grants that you can use to do just that.
During a crisis meeting about the recovery of the cultural sector between its representatives and the municipality, the desire to offer support in the form of a facilitating online platform arose – in addition to the already scheduled financial support. Eva Postema, Cobie de Vos, Rachel Feuchtwang, Roswita Warmerdam and Marjolein van Alfen designed a blueprint for the platform, leading to the establishment of HET PUNT. Our initiative aims to get Utrecht’s cultural sector back up and running and to offer creative makers and entrepreneurs a bit of perspective in times of corona.
HET PUNT aims for cross-pollination between sectors and thinks about how the upcoming cultural restart can be accelerated and adequately implemented. We do this by connecting, advising, and mapping out common obstacles to help others overcome them as much as possible.
That HET PUNT focuses on the short term for the time being (until the end of 2021, to be specific) but is also fully engaged in researching how to give the platform a permanent place in the cultural system of our beautiful city.
It doesn’t matter where your idea came from – if it contributes to the Utrecht cultural sector, we would love to know what you’re up to!
Absolutely not, all of our work is done free of charge!
HET PUNT was founded by Marjolein van Alfen and Roswita Warmerdam, supported by Christy de Putter.
Marjolein van Alfen
Marjolein is the co-owner of creative workshop Urlaub, was the artistic director of Vechtclub XL, filmed a documentary on the value of atelier organisations and is the area director for the Merwede district. She’s been committed to Utrecht’s cultural sector for years and has garnered in-depth knowledge about setting up projects and events, creative entrepreneurship, and the many obstacles you can encounter as a creative or entrepreneur – which she can help you overcome.
Roswita Warmerdam
She is one of the initiators of Utrechts Verbond, DEPOT Utrecht and Creatief Ondernemend Utrecht, general director of Vechtclub XL and worked as a freelance project manager for creative and commercial parties such as the Centraal Museum and Vice. Given all that experience, Roswita knows better than anyone what it’s like to shape a creative idea and how to find the right paths – or people – at the city council. That, (and much more) is why she can help you out.
Christy de Putter
Christy studies Communication Multimedia Design at the Hogeschool Utrecht. Through her internship at communication agency Buro Dertig, she knows that the art and culture sector is where she feels most at home. Creative thinking and writing are her forte, and she’s been doing just that as a freelancer since early March 2021.
Cases
The team behind a nightclub hasn’t been able to welcome dancers for over 15 months. To stay visible and (safely) warm people up for an upcoming reopening, they want to venture outside and organise an outdoor cinema evening around the night and the culture that springs from it. Visitors can rent headphones and reserve seats. The team is also considering a temporary roof construction in case of bad weather.
Can they? HET PUNT can help out if you’re running into issues. For example, we can help you find out more about potential permits, and we can link you to partners in our network that hail from the Utrecht film scene.
A theatre group has been working on a new performance for months. Due to the high demand for places to perform and a host of postponed programming, traditional stages such as Theater Kikker and the Stadsschouwburg are fully booked through the end of the year. To prevent their performance from being delayed – and from postponement becoming cancellation -, the group is on the lookout for alternative locations.
But where to start? HET PUNT can help out if you’re running into issues. We have a good view of available locations in the city (from alternative stages to community centres), and we can link the theatre group to similar collectives running into the same problem. We can also help you think about ways to add a new dimension to the performance through subsidies or joining forces with others. Additionally, HET PUNT tries to support initiatives that aim to expand the number of (temporary) places to perform across the city.
A creative hub has an extensive outdoor space which can be used for company presentations or open-air stage performances. It only requires certain technical adjustments and permission from the municipality.
What’s up with that? HET PUNT can help out if you’re running into issues. We can refer you to the right contacts within the municipality to ensure that the permit procedure runs as smoothly as possible. And we have an overview of possible subsidies that can be used to fund the technical adjustments.
A year of standstill and stagnation has wreaked havoc in our cultural sector, but as glimmers of hope start to take shape on the horizon, it’s time for progress and perspective. Perspective that stimulates new ideas and adds colour. Perspective for all those makers, artists, entrepreneurs, artists and producers. And for the city of Utrecht and its inhabitants.
That is the starting point of HET PUNT, an independent helpdesk run by facilitators who are paving a way out of the corona crisis for cultural initiatives.
HET PUNT is …
A starting point,
connection point,
crossing point,
action point,
meeting point,
assembly point,
support point,
point of interest,
reporting point
and viewpoint
But we are never the endpoint.
Are you looking for a location or funding for your art but encountering obstacles or don’t know where to start? Maybe you have an available space where culture can flourish again?
the form and let us know. We’ll help you make it happen.
Privacy statement
HET PUNT Utrecht, located at Stadsplateau 1, 3521 AZ Utrecht, is responsible for the processing of personal data as shown in this privacy statement.
Contact details:
https://hetpuntutrecht.nl
Stadsplateau 1, 3521 AZ Utrecht
Personal data that we process:
HET PUNT Utrecht processes your personal data because you use our services and/or because you provide this data to us yourself.
Below you will find an overview of the personal data that we process:
– First and last name
– Telephone number
– Email address
– IP address
– Information about your activities on our website
Special and/or sensitive personal data that we process:
Our website and/or service does not intend to collect data about website visitors who are younger than 16 years old. Unless they have parental or guardian permission. However, we cannot check whether a visitor is older than 16. We therefore advise parents to be involved in the online activities of their children, in order to prevent data about children being collected without parental consent. If you are convinced that we have collected personal data about a minor without this permission, please contact us via info@hetpuntutrecht.nl and we will delete this information.
For what purpose and on what basis we process personal data:
HET PUNT Utrecht processes your personal data for the following purposes:
– Sending our newsletter and/or advertising brochure
– To contact you about the information you entered
Automated decision making:
HET PUNT Utrecht takes responsible decisions based on automated processing on matters that can have (significant) consequences for people. These are decisions taken by computer programs or systems, without involving a person (for example an employee of HET PUNT Utrecht). HET PUNT Utrecht uses the following computer programs or systems:
– Anonymous Google Analytics
How long we keep personal data:
HET PUNT Utrecht does not store your personal data longer than is strictly necessary to realise the purposes for which your data is collected. We use the following retention periods for the following (categories) of personal data:
– Until the end of the pilot phase.
Sharing personal data with third parties:
HET PUNT Utrecht shares your personal data with various third parties if this is necessary for the execution of the agreement and to comply with any legal obligation. We conclude a processing agreement with companies that process your data on our behalf to ensure the same level of security and confidentiality of your data. HET PUNT Utrecht remains responsible for these processing operations. In addition, HET PUNT Utrecht provides your personal data to other third parties. We only do this with your explicit permission.
Cookies, or similar techniques, that we use:
HET PUNT Utrecht usage analytical cookies. A cookie is a small text file that is stored in the browser of your computer, tablet or smartphone when you first visit this website. The cookies keep track of which pages are visited, but are stored anonymously and thus only provide a general insight into the visitor numbers that cannot be traced back to specific persons or devices.
You can opt out of cookies by setting your internet browser so that it no longer stores cookies. In addition, you can also delete all information that was previously stored via the settings of your browser.
For an explanation, see: https://veiliginternetten.nl/themes/gedrag/cookies-wat-zijn-het-en-wat-doe-ik-ermee/
View, modify or delete data:
You have the right to view, correct or delete your personal data. You can do this yourself via the personal settings of your account. In addition, you have the right to withdraw your consent to the data processing or to object to the processing of your personal data by our company and you have the right to data portability. This means that you can submit a request to us to send the personal data we have about you in a computer file to you or another organisation mentioned by you.
If you want to make use of your right to object and/or right to data portability or if you have other questions/comments about data processing, please send a specified request to info@hetpuntutrecht.nl.
To ensure that the request for access has been made by you, we ask you to enclose a copy of your proof of identity with the request. Make your passport photo, MRZ (machine readable zone, the strip with numbers at the bottom of the passport), passport number and Citizen Service Number (BSN) black in this copy. This is to protect your privacy.
HET PUNT Utrecht will respond to your request as soon as possible, but in any case within four weeks.
HET PUNT Utrecht would also like to point out that you have the opportunity to file a complaint with the national supervisory authority, the Dutch Data Protection Authority. You can do this via the following link: https://autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl/nl/contact-met-de-autoriteit-persoonsgegevens/tip-ons
How we protect personal data:
HET PUNT Utrecht takes the protection of your data seriously and takes appropriate measures to prevent misuse, loss, unauthorised access, unwanted disclosure and unauthorised changes. If you feel that your data is not properly secured or there are indications of misuse, please contact our customer service or via info@hetpuntutrecht.nl