How can we produce better knowledge about the many ‘othered’ populations that have shaped Europe? How can we make the image of who and what Europe is correspond to everyday reality? And how can Europe overcome its colonial past to become a truly diverse and inclusive continent? With a grant of 4.9 million euros from the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA), the interdisciplinary consortium "Re/Presenting Europe" led by cultural historian Rachel Gillett (Utrecht University) aims to tackle these questions. Prof. dr. Jacco van Sterkenburg of the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) is a co-applicant in the project. The plan is that a PhD candidate will be situated at ESHCC.
Popular culture
The interdisciplinary consortium looks at positive examples of belonging, such as in popular sports like (mediated) football and other forms of popular culture such as hip-hop music. One of the main questions is: who are the new heroes and how do they ensure that younger generations also feel at home in Europe?
"Ultimately, we want to create a more inclusive understanding of Europe and the Netherlands in particular," Gillett explains. "This redefinition of European and Dutch society acknowledges the long presence of super-diverse groups of 'others'. By harnessing the creative energy of diversity, solidarity becomes visible and healing from colonial trauma can occur."
Groundbreaking collaboration
The strength of the consortium is the groundbreaking level of cooperation between academic research institutions and community-based organisations that represent and reflect the diversity of European society. This team investigates links between the Dutch identity and Europe, including the transatlantic and postcolonial connection.
Cooperation between science and society
Utrecht University will be the project lead cooperating with a large number of universities and universities of applied science - Erasmus University Rotterdam, Radboud University Nijmegen, Leiden University, University of Amsterdam, VU Amsterdam, Hanzehogeschool Groningen, Hogeschool Utrecht and Reinwardt Academy. Many social and knowledge organisations are involved as well- National Knowledge Institute for Culture Education and Amateur Art LKCA, Mulier Institute, National Museum of World Cultures, the Participation Federation, Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Cultuur Oost, House of Urban Arts, Stichting de Sportwereld, Feyenoord, Erfgoed Brabant, Keti Koti Tafel, Future Me, Stichting Amsterdam Hip Hop Academy, Stichting Fundashon Bon Intenshun, Literatuurmuseum, Zwart Archief, Stichting Ocan, Noordstaat, De Rijdende Popschool, Groninger Museum, Stichting Nowhere, FunX.
- Researcher