In this edition of PhD Stories from Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC), we speak with Peter van der Zant about his doctoral research into the concept of the ‘public value’ of amateur art. He shows that in the Netherlands, people generally have a surprisingly positive view of the value of amateur art for society, even those who do not practise the arts themselves.
Amateur art is a popular leisure activity in the Netherlands. Approximately half of the Dutch population engages in artistic, musical or creative activities in their spare time. In addition, millions of Dutch people – consciously or unconsciously – enjoy amateur art by visiting festivals, exhibitions and performances, or by watching television (talent shows) and following social media.
But how do we actually value amateur art in the Netherlands? And how can this appreciation contribute to a sustainable policy to support amateur art practice? In his dissertation, which he defended on 2 October 2025, Peter van der Zant answers these questions.
Sustainable policy justification
Since the Second World War, the government has been promoting amateur art. In practice, however, policy often depends on the importance that individual policy makers and politicians attach to amateur art. ‘My thesis examines whether the policies of governments, as well as those of institutions and cultural funds that support amateur art, can be substantiated in a more sustainable way by using the concept of “public value”,’ says Van der Zant. ‘This concept always involves identifying the views of all those involved, not only politicians or experts, but also ordinary citizens; after all, as taxpayers (or donors to funds), they are the ones who make any support financially possible.’
Not a left-wing hobby or elitist pursuit
To find out what citizens think about amateur art, Van der Zant consulted a representative internet panel of more than 400 amateur artists and approximately 900 other citizens. They completed a questionnaire about the (public) value of amateur art.
With regard to amateur artists, the study shows that amateur art is certainly not a left-wing hobby or an elitist activity. Amateur artists, like the rest of the population, tend to be slightly more (moderately) right-wing than (moderately) left-wing. On average, they are slightly better educated than other citizens, but their income is slightly lower, partly because they are less likely to work full-time. They believe that their artistic practice is not only valuable to themselves, but also to society.
It is noteworthy that more than two-thirds of citizens who do not practise amateur art themselves believe that amateur art is important not only for the amateur artist, but also for the public and society. They therefore consider it important for the government to provide good facilities for amateur artists. Almost half are even willing to contribute financially to such facilities, even though they do not use them themselves. However, there is a striking difference in the willingness to contribute financially between citizens who are more left-wing and those who are more right-wing; the more left-wing, the greater the willingness to contribute.
Mission-driven role for government
The Dutch are not averse to amateur art. Only on the issue of the degree of government involvement and financial contributions is there a clear difference between the “left” and the “right”. Van der Zant therefore argues that, prior to the debate between supporters and opponents of subsidies for art and culture, the social value of (amateur) art should first be determined with all stakeholders. These include governments, supporting institutions, cultural funds, the (amateur) artists themselves, but also citizens in general. Subsequently, a discussion can take place on how all parties involved can contribute to realising this social value. The role of the government is primarily to bring parties together, to consult, to develop a long-term vision and to ensure a proper division of tasks.
This approach did not come out of nowhere. Van der Zant is inspired by the publications of the renowned Italian-American economist Mariana Mazzucato. In her work, she emphasises the often underestimated role of government in innovation, as evidenced by the government-facilitated technologies behind the iPhone. She argues that governments do take significant risks, but do not benefit sufficiently from successful innovations due to corporate tax avoidance. She argues that major societal challenges – such as climate, water and mobility – require mission-driven policy and a more active government, because the traditional neoliberal model, in which the government only intervenes when there are market failures, is inadequate.
Amateur art is simply naturally
Through his research, Van der Zant has realised that amateur art is so prevalent in society that citizens hardly notice it anymore. ‘Most people don't realise how often they encounter expressions of amateur art in public spaces, on television or on social media. In that respect, amateur art in society can be compared to water for a fish. It's just simply naturally.’
In any case, the concept of “public value” is resonating in various places. Van der Zant: "I have already received several requests to give lectures or presentations at municipalities and cultural organisations. I also plan to publish a number of articles. In addition, I am working on a manual for cultural policy officers at local and provincial authorities to help them apply the concept of public value in practice."
- Researcher
