Jessica Dassen: ‘A concert hall only belongs to everyone if everyone sees themselves in it’

Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is also opening its doors with a program that shows what we stand for: accessibility, connection, and talent development between people and cultures. Jessica Dassen, Head of Cultural and Business Activities, explains how DE OPENING perfectly aligns with the path we’ve been on over the past few years.

For those who think a concert hall is mostly about classical music, plush seats, and a night out, Jessica Dassen has a surprising message. ‘That’s all part of it,’ she says, laughing. ‘But when you walk through Eindhoven, you see a city that’s much bigger and more colorful than that. As a cultural house, you have to dare to ask the question: who are we actually not seeing in our halls yet?’

Preparations for THE OPENING are in full swing. At the end of August, Eindhoven will host the national launch of the cultural season. For three days, the city will turn into one big stage for art, culture, and social encounters. Muziekgebouw Eindhoven plays a prominent role in this with a program that perhaps shows better than ever where the building has grown to over the past years. ‘For us, THE OPENING is not just a festival weekend,’ says Dassen. ‘It’s actually a celebration of a journey we’ve been taking as a team for years.’

From programming for to programming with

That journey started with a simple observation: ‘If you say you’re there for all the people of Eindhoven, you also have to ask yourself if all the people of Eindhoven actually feel that way.’ Over the past few years, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven has been gradually building a more inclusive programming. Not just by simply booking different artists, but by actively involving communities in creating programs.

‘That’s maybe the most important difference,’ says Dassen. ‘We don’t program for a community, we program with a community.’ This led to festivals like Witaj Eindhoven, Merhaba Eindhoven, and most recently Bladi Festival. Initiatives where Polish, Turkish, and Moroccan people in Eindhoven are not just visitors, but co-creators. The festival program is developed for and by the community.

‘The success of that doesn’t lie in our building. The success lies in the people who contributed their networks, their stories, their energy, and their trust. Without them, these festivals would never have become what they are today.’ ‘I’m incredibly proud of that. But I’m just as proud of the team at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven. This isn’t a project of one department. From technical staff to marketing, from production to catering: everyone helped build this.’

THE OPENING on Sunday: Eindhoven in one building

That idea probably comes through most strongly on the Sunday of THE OPENING. Under the banner Your World, Your Music, that day is entirely dedicated to the international communities of Eindhoven. The building turns into a meeting place where cultures not only show themselves but also celebrate. ‘If you wanted to sum up Eindhoven in one building, this would be the day to do it.’

The most eye-catching part? The Latin American community brings its culture to Muziekgebouw Eindhoven under the name Hola Eindhoven. ‘Nineteen countries. Nineteen stories. Nineteen cuisines, music styles, and traditions,’ Jessica smiles. ‘I think visitors will mostly see a lot of color. And a lot of food.’

But behind the party, there’s also a deeper message: ‘What we want to show is that culture isn’t something you consume. Culture is who you are. And how much more beautiful it becomes when you let those different stories exist side by side.’

This interview appeared earlier in Eindless Magazine.