Offshore and international cultural policy

Offshore shows where Dutch cultural organisations and artists are active, the countries they are travelling to and in which places they are working with whom. Offshore cannot tell you whether the locations are relevant, because it is the sectors themselves that determine the reputation of theatres, museums and other venues. Furthermore, reputations are not set in stone but can change over time.

Complex relationship
In the current situation, Offshore cannot be used to gauge the effectiveness of international cultural policy or of the work of the Dutch embassies in a straightforward way. Naturally when more attention is paid to certain countries and disciplines within policy, this will often lead to an increase in activities. And it is no coincidence that a number of embassies in countries that are ‘popular’ or important for cultural exchange have been appointed as posts with an enhanced cultural function, which means they have a cultural department and greater financial means than the average embassy.

There is a relationship between the interest shown in the Dutch cultural field and priorities in Dutch international cultural policy, even though these orientations might not always be directly in line with each other at all times.