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Forum on European Culture: Art Against the Tyrants

Five days, 30+ programs, 40+ international artists, writers & thinkers, art installations, film screenings, talks and more

from
June 25 – 29
Who’s afraid of art? Now that tyrants are on the roll and more and more people in the West seem to be falling for the autocratic alternative, De Balie brings together over 40 international artists, writers, and thinkers. During Forum on European Culture, we celebrate the subversive power of art and literature. 

It is no coincidence that – alongside opposition leaders and journalists – artists are among the first to be arrested when a society turns autocratic. The very existence of an autonomous realm of thought is, in itself, a threat to the tyrant.

So, we aim to create just that: a free realm of ideas and experimentation. With international guests like Anne Applebaum, Nino Haratischwili, Andrey Kurkov, Georgi Gospodinov, Mounira al Solh and Ece Temelkuran, among many others, we oppose the rise of authoritarianism and build coalitions for a free, pluralistic, and democratic world.

The strongest weapon of the tyrant is apathy. The belief that nothing can ever change; that the strongmen will get their way anyway. During Forum 2025, we curate works of opposition that challenge this culture of resignation. We showcase the work of artists who have endured times of war and depict their experiences in profound, sometimes playful works of art. We invite writers who tell the histories autocrats want to erase and imagine the futures autocrats fear.

It is not a given that the tyrant gets his way. Democracy can be maintained. If we care enough about it.


vr 27 jun / 12:00
Forum on European Culture Democratie en rechtsstaat

Anne Applebaum x Volodymyr Yermolenko

On Ukraine’s past, present and future

za 28 jun / 16:30
Forum on European Culture Democratie en rechtsstaat

Art Against the Tyrants: Interview Marathon

With Nino Haratischwili, Beatrix Ruf, Ece Temelkuran, Volodymyr Yermolenko, Želimir Žilnik, Gosia Wdowik and more

vr 27 jun / 21:00
Forum on European Culture De Digitale Wereld Democratie en rechtsstaat

You Can Kill the Messenger, but not the Message

Techdenkers on Journalism in the Danger Zone


25 & 26 June
Friday 27 June
Saturday 28 June
Sunday 29 June

Art installations / expositions

Expositie

Open Group: Repeat After Me 2024

Forum on European Culture

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Expositie

Open atelier with Nikita Kravtsov

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Expositie

I Will Bleed For a Better Reason Next Year

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Expositie

Dries Verhoeven: Do not go gentle into that good night

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Forum on European Culture 2025 is made possible with the support of:

Mediapartners