(2024) On Tuesday July 2nd, I gave a speech in the city council chamber of Hoorn during a committee meeting, speaking up for art and culture in our town. You could say I stepped right into the lion’s den. The other artists of Hoorn (or at least a big part of them) had asked me to be the one to speak. Someone had to do it, right? The speech came straight from the heart, but it wasn’t just about me. I wasn’t there to beg for money or anything like that, just to ask for some different choices, and a little respect. That alone would already go a long way. Beforehand, I called on people to come and support me, and I felt truly honoured to see the room packed. For everyone who came, I brought a yellow flower, so the council could clearly see that I was speaking on behalf of a whole group. I had been nervous all week, but I think it went pretty well, if I say so myself?
A massive, heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up to support. ❤Special thanks to my dear girlfriend @yanismoreira.yoga and my lovely intern @kimkrijnenn for helping out with all the practical stuff. Extra thanks to my buddy @onnoroos for listening to me rant about it over and over again, and even more special thanks to the amazing @janine.thereadinessisall from @theater.het.pakhuis for handling the communication with the municipality, so I didn’t have to speak complicated bureaucratic Dutch and could just do my thing. Tnx! I love you all. ?ﾟ ﾌ ﾼ ?
PS: Apparently the municipality decided to mute a line from the video of the speech. A bit odd, if you ask me. Anyway, here’s the line where the sound suddenly drops:
“I’m tired of not being allowed to have loving artworks in public space, while cancer-causing Big Mac posters from McDonald’s are totally fine.”
PPS: Afterwards I gave each of the council members a postcard of my work “Bouquet of Weeds”. ?
PPPS: They called me Mr. STHOM in there. Haha!
PPPPS: And now, I’m going back to making beautiful things. That’s what I’m actually good at and honestly, it brings me way more joy.
With love,
STHOM
