Campaign Group Calls for De Balie Programme to Be Cancelled: “Do Not Give Rape Culture a Platform”

The campaign group Geen Podium is calling on De Balie to cancel its programme on 27 October. A discussion with the art collective KIRAC is scheduled for that evening, and according to Geen Podium it is an organisation “that perpetuates rape culture”. In a statement, De Balie says the programme will go ahead.

In an open letter, the group expresses its outrage at the planned event with KIRAC. The discussion will concern the film Honeypot, in which conservative philosopher and former VVD councillor Sid Lukkassen is lured into a trap by a sex date with a “left-wing girl”.

Provocative films about the established art world are characteristic of KIRAC, and Honeypot fits that description. Its premiere on 8 October was also controversial, according to the group's letter. They express their disgust at a stunt involving Julian A., who was welcomed there with a horse and flowers and “uncancelled”. A. is currently under criminal investigation over allegations of sexual abuse.

“Do not provide a platform”

The group believes the debating centre must act. “We ask De Balie to consider the victims of sexual violence and how they would feel about someone facing allegations being welcomed and ‘uncancelled’. We ask De Balie not to provide a platform for sexual violence and rape culture.” The protest letter has now received more than 1,350 signatures.

“A more critical programme”

“We believe it is important to follow developments in art and society critically and provide context. Our job is to ensure that, once on stage, we do so carefully,” De Balie says in a statement. “For that purpose, De Balie has a good editorial team, and a range of voices are heard in editorial meetings.” The debating centre says the evening will provide a more critical context than recent pieces on the subject in newspapers such as Het Parool or NRC Handelsblad.