Djodjie Rinsampessy from Assen is one of the three nominees for the national title of Cultural Coach of the Year. He has been working at Vaart Welzijn in the municipality of Assen for three years, where he is committed to all residents in the municipality, with particular attention to residents who (could) experience barriers to participating in culture: newcomers, young people, singles and residents in poverty.
The nomination comes as a surprise for Djodjie. “I have been working on getting everything going for the past three years. It is very nice that the municipality of Assen has signed me up and it is special that I am now among the last three,” he says. “There are about a thousand culture coaches in the Netherlands.”
As a writer and former neighborhood worker in Assen-Oost, he already knew how powerful art and culture can be in connecting people. “I have always seen art and culture as a means to bring people together and do things together. Then it doesn’t matter who or who.”
It was not immediately certain that he would one day become a culture coach himself. “They once asked me if I wanted to help with the application procedure for a culture coach, but then I said: no, I’ll apply myself. I really believe that you can build something lasting with recurring projects.”
Rinsampessy developed successful projects in a short time. His first major initiative was Peelo Kleurt, a festival where local residents organize events themselves. It has now grown into an annual neighborhood project.
“I am most proud of Peelo Kleurt. It was a gamble in the beginning, but it turned out so well that we still do it.”
And a temporary painting workshop started in Kloosterveen, which has now grown into a permanent group: the Kloosterkwast. “You don’t do it alone. It is the residents with whom you do it. They make the difference.”
For Djodjie, cultural work revolves around encounters. “We recently completed an activity in which people of different nationalities worked together. That is exactly what I want to achieve: connecting and bringing people together.”
He does not see the nomination as recognition for himself, but mainly for the local residents of Assen. “It would be wonderful if we could bring this prize to Assen. It really puts art and culture here on the map. It is an honor for the residents. It shows that we can come together. You really do it together.”
As part of the election, the finalists must submit a short film. “That has to be done pretty quickly,” he says, laughing. “You really need your contacts in the neighborhood for that.”
He is now working hard on the film together with young people to complete it before the deadline. “I supply the ingredients and they turn it into something beautiful.”
On December 4, it will be announced in Apeldoorn who will walk away with the coveted title of Cultural Coach of the Year.