ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE
What You See is an arts festival about gender and identity. Here you can see work by artists that can hardly be seen in the Netherlands, uniquely composed programs, unexpected pop-up performances, free exhibitions and more. But What You See Festival is above all an invitation to come together, to meet others, to examine your own assumptions and prejudices. Together with artists and the public, we create a joint quest for a more inclusive society.
Welcome!
Our story
What You See arose from the need to contribute to an inclusive and gender-diverse society. Vincent Wijlhuizen and Ieme Soes initially planned to organize a big party to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community. This plan quickly developed into a festival and Annette van Zwoll joined. The three of them set up crowdfunding, talked to Theater Kikker, who generously offered their theater, and made their first plans. In 2018 the first What You See Festival was a fact.
People consist of a multi-coloured, layered identity, of which gender is an important element. Nobody wants to be reduced to one characteristic of that identity, but at the same time it is very human to identify the other as quickly as possible. Then the identity of another is often simplified and made one-dimensional. Art offers the opportunity to explore alternatives, show different perspectives and question your own mechanisms.
As a catalyst, instigator and forerunner, What You See Festival works towards a (gender) diverse and inclusive society. We program, initiate and (co)produce professional art expressions that offer diverse perspectives on gender and identity and do justice to the diversity and complexity of the subject.
Equity, positive activist, questioning, connecting, transparent, respectful, accountable, unapologetic.
What You See cannot exist without the involvement and support of others. Theater Kikker is the festival heart, Stadsschouwburg, Het Huis Utrecht, Poppodium EKKO, Neude Library festival locations and content partners. We also work together with the Savannah Bay bookstore, the Utrecht University of the Arts, Utrecht University, the Beautiful Words Foundation and Theater Festival Boulevard.
Internationally we collaborate with Gender Bender Festival (Bologna, Italy), Orlando Festival (Bergamo, Italy), Jerk Off Festival (Paris, France) and Antwerp Queer Festival (Antwerp, Belgium).
team
ANNETTE VAN ZWOLL
she/her
Artistic and business director
Co-founder and curator of WYS with additional expertise in dance dramaturgy. Lives in Berlin where she swims in lakes a lot.
Photography credits: Tessa de Geus
RICK BUSSCHER
them/their
Business producer
Business producer with a need for equity, love for excel, and vision on new business models.
Photography credits: shots by mikey
DENI DE LUGT
she/her who/his
Marketing and publicity
Marketing expert with a background in the arts and a mission to raise awareness of inclusive visual language.
Photography credits: Rik Versteeg
VERA BONDER
them/their
Festival dramaturge and programme maker
Dramaturge and facilitator who questions the status quo in an exploratory manner and thereby strives to make the world more inclusive - and therefore more beautiful.
Photography credits: Tanno Witkamp
freelancers
Sharmila Vooren
she/her
Ticketing
Ticket manager with a passion for art and community building. Committed to a more just, humane, and safe society.
Photography credits: Tomi Cornio
Sunni Lamin Barrow
he/him
Curator
Curator and literary artist working at the intersection of language, diaspora, and queer narratives to encourage reflection and connection.
Photography credits: Badrr Ezzat
MAURICIO TUNAROZA
he/him
Production leader
Producer with extensive experience in festivals and training initiatives. Loves languages, films and travelling.
Rosy Timmermans
she/her
Marketing and communication
All-round creative with a passion for visual arts and music, active in the cultural sector in Utrecht.
Elliot Blokhuis
that/serves
Volunteer coordinator
Consistently committed to a better world and a heartwarming point of contact for volunteers at WYS.
Senja Borgers
she/her
Lunch coordinator
Lovingly supports (performing) artists and colleagues in production and administrative matters – and occasionally with freshly baked muffins.
Photography credits: Ruben Vis
