COFFEE TALK with Sarah Soethoudt | November 21, 2024

Sarah Soethoudt on connecting dance, interdisciplinary autonomy and accessible art in Venlo, the Netherlands

Sarah Soethoudt is a contemporary dancer, choreographer, cultural coach and founding member of the artist collective FLUJAS in Venlo, Noord-Limburg. This region consists mainly of villages and small towns, which is both a blessing and a challenge for any professional artist working in the area. As a dancer and choreographer, Sarah creates site-specific works, using the local forests as both inspiration and setting. She also develops performances for specific purposes, collaborating with partners such as museums and nature organizations. As a culture coach, she helps to lift off local artistic initiatives, supporting both professional artists and inhabitants within Venlo. Finally, FLUJAS is an artist-run collective dedicated to improving working conditions for independent artists across Noord-Limburg. Most creators in this region face challenges related to exposure, finances, collaborations and know-how. FLUJAS brings artists together and gives them the space for trust and creation without pressure.

In this Coffee Talk, Sarah speaks about her interface work as a cultural coach, her artistic practice and collective work with a focus of rural areas in the Netherlands.