Capacity Building Workshop
Amsterdam & Vijfhuizen, 28–30 January 2026
From 28 to 30 January 2026, the third Capacity Building Workshop of CONTESTED DESIRES: Constructive Dialogues took place in Amsterdam and Vijfhuizen, bringing together more than 60 international artists, producers, cultural institutions, museums, project partners, and members of the public, both onsite and online. Under the title Who is IN and who is OUT?, the programme created a shared space for reflection, knowledge exchange, and critical discussion on how heritage practices and commemorative spaces can engage with decolonial memory, queer visibility, inclusion, and social repair.
The first day of the Capacity Building programme opened with a series of expert-led sessions addressing social inclusion within Dutch (post)colonial contexts and beyond. Cultural historian Nancy Jouwe presented on social inclusion and the legacies of colonialism in the Netherlands, followed by a joint session by Richard Sandell and Cesare Cuzzola from the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester. Their contribution critically examined dominant approaches to cultural inclusion, drawing on collaborative Black and queer heritage projects to explore alternative strategies for addressing systemic inequalities and fostering meaningful public dialogue around identity and belonging.
In the afternoon, artist-led sessions provided space for participating artists to present and contextualise their current artistic practices, followed by facilitated discussions with onsite and online participants. In parallel, podcast interviews invited contributors to reflect on the intersection of colonial histories, social inclusion, and artistic practice, further extending the programme’s reflective scope.
A central moment of the workshop was the public session “Who is IN and who is OUT”, which brought together artists, cultural practitioners, activists, and a wider public audience. Contributions by Alma Hunnik (IHLIA Archive / LGBTI Heritage) and Benjamin Caton, alongside Richard Sandell and Cesare Cuzzola, opened a shared discussion on queer visibility, decolonial memory, and the role of culture as a space for inclusion, repair, and transformation. The session combined screenings, presentations, and active audience participation, reinforcing dialogue as a key methodology of the CDCD project.
The second day of the programme took place at Kunstfort Vijfhuizen and focused on impact, ethics, and legacy. Through collective reflection, peer exchange, and site-specific engagement, participants explored power dynamics, ethical frameworks, and future directions for the project, while engaging with artworks presented within the historic fort setting.
Overall, the Capacity Building Workshop strengthened transnational collaboration, deepened public engagement, and expanded critical perspectives on inclusion and belonging within contested cultural and historical contexts.
© LNDW Studio.
* CONTESTED DESIRES Constructive Dialogues Co-funded by the European Union *
