Beleidsplan Stichting Knopen/ Policy Plan
Introduction:
Stichting Knopen focuses on creating interdisciplinary artistic, educational and community projects that combine movement and music. These projects include performances, concerts, and workshops aimed at both professionals and culture makers , held in the Netherlands and internationally. Manuela Lucia Tessi oversees the Foundation’s operations as its director, taking charge of administration, accounting, and the overall management of its activities. Funding for Stichting Knopen comes from project-based grants, sponsorships, and income generated from performances and workshops. At the conclusion of each project, a detailed report covering both the artistic outcomes and financial aspects is submitted to the funding bodies.
The Stichting’’s board is responsible for ensuring sound financial management, which includes the following tasks:
- Preparing the annual budget
- Approving the annual financial accounts
- Managing and allocating funds
- Ensuring proper use of funds and facilitating necessary resources.
Stichting’s assets are always dedicated to fulfilling its objectives. It will not retain more assets than necessary to ensure the continuity of its planned activities. The board of Stichting Knopen serves on a voluntary basis and does not receive any form of remuneration or compensation for their board duties. No attendance fees are paid.
History of Stichting Knopen
Stichting Knopen was founded in 2012 by Emese Csornai and Silvia Bennett, who were initially joined on the board by Ellen Knops. In 2015, the Foundation was handed over to Manuela Lucia Tessi, who subsequently used it for the funding application process of her project “The Weight of Words” in 2016. Although the project was realized, the funding applications were ultimately unsuccessful. From 2015 to 2022, the Foundation remained inactive. During this period, the board members were Colin McLean (Secretary), Arvind Ganga (Chair), and Manuela Tessi (Treasurer).
In 2022, Stichting Knopen resumed its activities. Manuela Tessi and Thalia Laric began using the Stichting for their “TAH DAM! Euro Tour” project. They later invited Maya Felixbrodt to join the team, and together with the Moving Strings ensemble, they began using the Stichting for their collaborative projects.
In October/November 2022, the board was restructured, and the new board members are as follows:
- Felicity Provan: Voorzitter (Chair)
- Colin McLean: Secretaris (Secretary)
- Sonia Kazovsky: Penningmeester (Treasurer)
Manuela Lucia Tessi is not on the board but has power of attorney.
Stichting Knopen activities 2022-2023-2024
In 2022, dancers Manuela Lucia Tessi and Thalia Laric embarked on a co-production between continents. In 2020, they were invited by the Fratz International Festival in Berlin to create a performance for young audiences. Together with their colleagues from South Africa and Mozambique—musicians and dancers Vintani Nafassi, Sumalgy Nuro, and Coila-Leah Enderstein—they developed TAH DAM! (Together at Home, Dance and Music), a music and dance performance. The project was guided by South African theatre maker Nicola Elliott and co-produced by MusicDance Cape Town, Theatre Arts Cape Town, and Fratz International in Berlin, with direction by Tessi and Laric. TAH DAM! was conceived during the pandemic, which led the artists to create a series of performance and activity videos aimed at inspiring and uplifting children and parents during the lockdown. These videos were made available for free, encouraging artistic engagement in homes in South Africa and Europe, where the videos were distributed, Once it was safe to resume live performances, TAH DAM! was finally presented as a full theatre piece. With the support of Stichting Knopen and Fratz International, Tessi and Laric organized a European tour for TAH DAM!. The performance was staged in Spring 2022 in Sweden, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. TAH DAM! https://www.tahdam.com/ The funds that made possible the realisation of the tour came from Fratz International festival, theatres in Sweden (Malmö and Orkeljunga), Teatro Munganga and OCCII Amsterdam, City of Duisburg, CIE Squeez (Brussels). In addition to the performances there were some educational activities supported by Conservatorium van Amsterdam and an independently organised workshop at de Tanker in Noord, Amsterdam.
In 2022, Stichting Knopen began supporting the activities of the Moving Strings ensemble. The ensemble enjoyed two six-month artist residencies at Splendor in Amsterdam, which were crucial for the creation of Gathering Fantasies, a full-length work consisting of four original compositions by ensemble members Maya Felixbrodt, Irene Sorozabal, Alex Welch, and Manuela Lucia Tessi. Moving Strings was also an ensemble-in-residence at Gaudeamus 2023, where Gathering Fantasies premiered during the festival. Each piece in Gathering Fantasies represents the ensemble’s deep exploration of the relationship between sound and movement, blending music and choreography in which sound and movement influence each other. The performance ranged from experimental sound practices to catchy tunes, lyrical songs, spiraling harmonies, and folky melodies, all aiming to present a fluid way of being. The ensemble’s mission was to connect with the audience through their individual and collective “otherness,” turning it into a source of connection. During the Gaudeamus Festival 2023, Moving Strings performed multiple concerts as part of their residency, including the presentation of new works composed specifically for the festival by Gaudeamus Award nominees Aya Yoshida and Artun Çekem.
This project was supported by Gaudeamus Stichting, while Gathering Fantasies was supported by funds gathered by ensemble members through Norma Fonds and Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst.
In 2024, Gathering Fantasies was performed in a communal building , de Warren in Amsterdam, which led to the development of Gathering Fantasies in Jouw Gebouw, a project lead by ensemble member Camille Verhaak. For this projects there were some small amount of donations offered by supporters of Moving Strings.
Stichting Knopen activities 2025 and policy plan
The Stichting is currently in the process of asking for ANBI status, which will be of great help in the gathering of private donations for the support of the activities.
Projects of Moving Strings 2025 and further
-Gathering Fantasies – UP-CLOSE Korzo
Moving Strings in establishing a connection with Korzo, The Hague. We are working towards a new project that will hopefully premiere in Korzo in 2025 or 2026: Gathering Fantasies UP-CLOSE. Based on the ensemble’s recent work, Gathering Fantasies, which premiered at Gaudeamus Festival 2023, this new work researches what happens when the combination of movement and sound is translated into an audiovisual output, through sensors and by algorithms, with the help of an AI engine. For this work, we hope to collaborate with Umut Eldem, a composer and specialist in generative art, and choreographer Amos Ben-Tal.
To realise this project we will ask for support from public funds.
-Gathering Fantasies in Jouw Gebouw
Ongoing, starting February 2025- Gathering Fantasies in Jouw Gebouw
a project in collaboration with Lang Leven Thuisflat, seniorenflat Ookmeerweg 286 Leo Polakhuis , Amsterdam Nieuw West.
Moving Strings is developing a new, site-specific, open version of Gathering Fantasies, with the participation of Lang Leven Thuisflat residents. A series of workshops based on Moving Strings research, will lead to a new version of the performance, inspired by the place and people. We will ask: what is the meaning of home? What role does creativity play in a home environment? What are the different voices in the house and how can we listen and be heard? With sounds, images and physical movement, we aim to gather fantasies from and for the building. Gathering Fantasies in Jouw Gebouw has received support at the end of 2024 from Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie. The project will be completed at the end of 2025.
Moving Strings will organise educational activities during 2025:
-Play-as-we-are educational platform
-Collaboration with Antwerpen Conservatory
–Expanded Practices for Musicians ~ Summer Retreat, July 7-8-9 @ Splendor, Amsterdam
Other projects supported by Stichting Knopen in 2025:
–Anda e Rianda– the Body of Sound
This is a collaboration between Manuela Lucia Tessi and actress/vocalist Ilaria Carlucci, with the support of Tonio de Nitto (Compagnia Factory).
It is a work designed for children aged 2 to 5 and their parents. At the heart of this work is the discovery of sound: sound vibrations transform into movement, and movement, in turn, gives birth to new sounds. art of the performance, influencing the play with their essence of swirling repetition. Manuela Lucia Tessi started developing Anda e Rianda during a residency around Lecce, supported by TRAC (teatri di residenza artistica contemporanea). Anda e Rianda is produced by Factory – Compagnia Tansadriatica (Italy) and Stichting Knopen (Netherlands) Anda e Rianda will premiere at Kids International Festival in Lecce in 2025-2026 The funds necessary to support these projects are jointly gathered by Factory, and Stichting Knopen (that will ask support for travel to Italy).
-Summer Course Amsterdam 11-23 August 2025. The Summer Course Amsterdam, directed by Katie Duck, was created in 2009 as a platform for artists to gather, research, and create multidisciplinary compositions. The artists who participate in the Summer Course come from various backgrounds in music, dance, performance art, acting, and other related education. Participants are of all ages, nationalities, and orientations who have a curiosity for multidisciplinary collaboration.Improvisation, in the summer course, is not considered to be the antithesis of composition. It is how the work is played, and how the multidisciplinary practices merge in a rehearsal setting and performance.The objective of this program is to dive deep together into an understanding of the craft of real-time multidisciplinary performance.The Summer Course will take place at OT301, Ventilator Cinema. This is an independent project that is sustained entirely from the tuition of the participants.
Collaboration partners and connection to the field
–Splendor – residency 2022-2023 and ongoing relationship
–OT301 where Manuela Tessi has a studio, (studio Bodlabot) and is an active member of the community. In OT301 is possible to organise try-outs, performances and workshops due to the long time relationship and involvement of Manuela Tessi
–Gaudeamus Festival (Moving Strings ensemble in residence 2023, and ongoing relationship)
-Moving Strings has started a collaboration with Bart Verbunt, who will advise the ensemble on funding strategies and writing grants.
-Factory Compagnia Transadriatica Lecce, Italy
stichtingknopen.com 