Collective Compass: Mapping Shared Path in and beyond the Zoekjaar

Collective Compass is an one-day public event that invite audiences and artists who are based in the Netherlands, particularly those navigating the zoekjaar (search year), to engage in workshops, talks, and screening that merge artistic research with practical strategies. Taking place at Droog The Red Space, it fosters collective learning and solidarity while giving visibility to diasporic artistic practices. 

The program begins at 11:00 am with two talks focusing on funding opportunities and strategies for surviving the Artist Zoekjaar.
After a one-hour break, a workshop hosted by SiSi Zhang will take place, dedicated to the collective navigation of the Zoekjaar. Participants will gather around a “Map of the Zoekjaar” to discuss both practical and emotional challenges, as well as strategies for navigating the search year.

Later in the program, a reading performance by Fileona Dkhar and a 1.5hr screening by Biyi Zhu will be presented, offering reflections on and documentation of the year, followed by a short Q&A session.

This project provides a space for diasporic artists and researchers to share knowledge, tools, and artistic strategies, fostering collective problem-solving and mutual support. Participants will gain confidence and resilience in navigating the zoekjaar, while the workshop’s outputs, tools, strategies, and documentation will be shared with a wider community.

Doors Open: 10:30

Start of the event: 11:00