HER Dialogue: The Art of Connection
Art connects us. It moves us. It makes us see and act.
At a time of staggering pushback on human - and women’s - rights, our safety and our seats at the table, the arts matter more than ever. Reason alone rarely changes people or systems. We change when something moves us. Art, in all its forms, can cross divides, challenge the status quo, and give us the imagination, connection and courage to act.
And that space needs protecting. Funding for the arts is under pressure, while artists and cultural institutions are increasingly challenged on what can be said, shown and questioned. Artists and the cultural sector face significant challenges in their ability to create - and to be the force for connection and inclusion we need them to be.
Our Invitation
On November 10th, we are delighted to invite you into the inspiring surroundings of Studio Micky Hoogendijk in Amsterdam for an intimate evening of art, stories, provocation of thought, and connection.
Together with a small group of Netherlands-based artists and leaders, we will explore our dreams for the arts - and how we might collectively protect the space for art and unleash its power to create change, in the Netherlands and beyond.
As a Collective of women, we will also explore the particular power of women as artists, storytellers and changemakers. For generations, women have used art to make visible what was overlooked, question established norms, tell different stories and imagine different futures. The role of women and the arts in the world today will be part of what we look to unpack.
Expect art. Provocation. Stories. Conversation. And plenty of space to connect.
About the Dialogue
Artist and host Micky Hoogendijk will open with a personal reflection on the power of art and what she has learned - as an artist and public figure - about what it takes to find her voice, bring humanity and imagination, and ultimately champion ‘the art of letting go’. (book link)
A select number of firestarters will then bring different perspectives and provocations to our focal question for the evening:
What might we dream up and create together to protect the arts and unleash the power of women and the arts to create lasting change?
Program
18:00 - Welcome, art & drinks
18:30 - Micky Hoogendijk: The Art of Connection
18:45 - Firestarters & dialogue
19:45 - Drinks, bites, art & connection
20:30 - Close
Your Hosts
The session is led by Margot Quaegebeur (Artist, Wackers Graduate) and Femke Rotteveel (Director, FOTODOK), and generously hosted by artist Micky Hoogendijk at her Museum & Gallery.
About HER Collective
HER Collective is a women-led community bringing together people ready to go the extra mile in restoring a world where all can thrive. By sparking dialogue, collaboration and collective action across diverse voices and sectors, we aim to contribute to some of society’s most pressing challenges.
At the heart of HER is a belief in the power of women to connect across differences, bring new perspectives into the room, support each other and find the courage to act. The “Art of Connection” was launched as an agenda late 2026 in a belief that the arts are essential in building the world we want.
As a Collective, HER Collective is exploring the possibility of launching an International Women’s Week from Amsterdam in March 2027. We hope to be able to provide an update on this dream on November 10th given the clear linkages that there might be to our topic of conversation for the evening.