How do you, as a visual artist, get to the core of your story and convey it in a clear way? During Word Up, Tuesday 10 June in Verhalenhuis Belvédère, you can participate in one of the workshops that delve deeper into the language we speak as artists. Join in and discover how you can use your story powerfully.
We offer four inspiring workshops, in which you practice and exchange together. During this evening you can participate in one workshop. You can indicate your preference in advance (see also Entrance & registration). Please note: this event will be held in Dutch. All workshops will be given in Dutch.
Workshop 1: B hungry & get fed by Marlies Leupen
What is the essence of your work, what is the relevance of your idea, who do you need to realize it? To create a connection with your audience, your clients or partners, it helps if you can clearly explain your plans. But how do you do that? How much detail does your story need, and how much context? Based on her conviction that your ideas are more likely to flourish if you share them with others, strategist and trainer Marlies Leupen developed 'B hungry & get fed' in 2002, an interactive pitch training for curious artists who want to be fed with feedback from others. At B hungry & get fed, the focus is on 'what is the essence of your story?' and 'who or what do you need now to take the next step?'.
Marlies Leupen has a background in the arts. After studying piano at the conservatory, she opted for the business side of the arts and specialized in organizing and presenting projects. She worked in the world of music, theater, visual arts and design. Since 2001, she has had her own agency for strategy, training and discussion leadership. From her background and broad practical experience in the arts, Marlies Leupen provides interactive presentation training for artists and strategic advice on profiling. Max. 12 participants.
Workshop 2: If your image was a word by Jochem Rotteveel
Do you recognize this: ten people ask you what your art is about and you tell a different story ten times? Or do you feel very strongly about what your work means, but you can't find the words for it? In the workshop of visual artist and communication professional Jochem Rotteveel you will find the words that belong to your art practice and that form the basis for your core message. A short text that you can use in grant applications and promotional texts. The core message not only tells others something about your art practice, but especially yourself. Because nothing teaches you more about your work than a good description. Max. 10 participants.
Jochem Rottevel works as a visual artist and exhibits at home and abroad. He studied Visual Arts (KABK) and Communication Studies (RuG). Since 2009 he combines both practices and lends knowledge from his communication background to the PR of his art. As a mentor of CBK Rotterdam, Rotteveel has already helped various artists formulate their keywords and core message.
Workshop 3: The future as a starting point — fiction as a practical tool for reflection and direction by Folke Janssen
In this workshop you will use imagination and writing to get a grip on where you are in your practice and where you want to go. You will develop a short future scenario, not as an abstract dream, but as a concrete starting point to investigate your position as a maker. What will your work show in 2030? Are you part of something? What stands out? By zooming out and placing yourself in the future, you will gain clear insights into what you find important, what you want to put your energy into, and what steps are needed now to get there. Multimedia artist Folke Janssen works with a guided exercise, a short writing assignment and a joint reflection. The result is not a fixed plan, but a personal guideline — from your own words and imagination. Max. 8 participants.
Folke Janssen is a multimedia artist from Helmond, living in Rotterdam. In his work he explores sociological themes by analyzing different perspectives and bringing them into artistic dialogue with each other. During the first corona lockdown, Anita Hrnic and Folke Janssen developed a fictional publication from 2025 about art from 2020, as a way to reflect on the reality of that moment. This form of fictional storytelling helped them to open up new perspectives through speculation and imagination in times of uncertainty.
Workshop 4: Critical Fabulation by Rachel Rumai (Writers Galaxy)
How do you use fiction as a means to convey a point of view or explore a theme within your artistic discipline? In this workshop we will explore how fiction and science fiction not only tell stories, but also function as tools for critique, imagination and the creation of new perspectives. We work with the concept of critical fabulation, developed by writer and cultural scientist Saidiya Hartman. This method combines archival and historical research with critical theory and fictional storytelling. Critical fabulation offers space to deal with missing or suppressed histories, by weaving facts and imagination into a story that not only supplements, but also questions and rewrites. During the workshop, you will work on how fiction can strengthen your own themes and ideas through writing assignments, group discussions and examples from literature and art. You will investigate how stories can contribute to your work, how you can take a position through imagination, and how you can use text to add new layers to your work. Max. 12 participants.
Rachel Rumai Diaz is a writer, poet, spoken word artist and founder of the literary platform for intersectional feminism Zus 'n Zo. In 2020, she was named one of the 101 new talents in the cultural field from the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking Belgium by the NRC Handelsblad. Through her work, Rachel searches for connections between art and activism, both on stage and behind the scenes, she is committed to creating awareness and making more room for unheard voices. Due to her Afro-Latin American and Caribbean background, she has a broad view of society and is particularly interested in projects around heritage, identity, intersectional feminism and transcultural art.
Practical information
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Time: 17:00 PM walk-in with soup | 18:00-21:00 PM workshops
Location: Story House Belvédère, Rechthuislaan 1, 3072LB
Entrance & registration
For €17,50 you can participate in one workshop and enjoy a cup of soup beforehand. You can register via artoffice@cbkrotterdam.nl. Let us know in your email which workshop is your first and second preference. After receiving your email, you will receive a confirmation from us with a payment request.
Language
All workshops will be held in Dutch. Non-Dutch speakers are also welcome if they feel comfortable with this.