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REPAIR explores the enduring impact of colonial legacies on cultural heritage in the Dutch Caribbean by learning from reparative interventions developed in the ABC islands. How do local organisations engage with the painful histories and ongoing effects of colonialism and slavery? How do they put cultural justice into practice?

This event is a collaboration between the Association of Museums & Heritage of Curaçao (Curaçao), Cas di Cultura (Aruba), the Eye Filmmuseum (Amsterdam), Fundashon Históriko Kultural Boneriano (Bonaire) and Utrecht University.

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Location: Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam

Registration: Attendance at the event is free of charge, but registration is required. Please register here.

The event consists of a day and an evening programme.

Day programme: Learning Cultural Justice from the ABC Islands

Room: Expo, Pakhuis de Zwijger,

13:00 - 13:30 – Introduction

Introduction to the project by Jamila Mascat and Camila Malig (Utrecht University), followed by a brief presentation of the project partners and the programme.

13:30 - 14:15 – Echoes Beneath the Stage: From Colonial Legacy to Community Voice, by Vicky Arens-Tjon-A-Tjoe, Director of Cas di Cultura

Vicky will talk about the history of Cas di Cultura from its founding to the present day, and how this history inspired the
Memoria Ancestral project and subsequent initiatives that engage with the legacies of colonialism in Aruba.

14:15 - 15:00 – Building Cultural Heritage Justice in Curaçao, by Zhwendeline Pieter, President and co-founder of the Association of Museums & Heritage of Curaçao

Zhwendeline will talk about how heritage organisations in Curaçao are working collectively to preserve, document, and activate
cultural heritage in the context of colonial legacies and rapid social change.

15:00 - 15:15 – Break

15:15 - 16:00 – Equal on Paper, Unequal in Practice: Heritage and Cultural Justice from Bonaire, by Emma Louise Pratt, General Manager of Fundashon Históriko Kultural Boneriano

Emma and Bòi Antoin (founder and director of Fundashon Históriko Kultural Boneriano) will talk about the challenges of doing
heritage in Bonaire.

16:00 - 16:45 – Dutch Caribbean cinema in the collection of Eye Filmmuseum, by Leenke Ripmeester, Head of Curators at the Eye Filmmuseum

Leenke will talk about her current research project regarding the Dutch-Caribbean collection at the Eye Filmmuseum.

16:45 - 17:00 – Break

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Evening programme: Forum for Cultural Justice

Room change: Studio, Pakhuis de Zwijger

17:00 - 18:30 – Forum for Cultural Justice

with Wendeline Flores, Kjelld Masoud Kroon, Lianne Leonora, Ludmila Duncan

The forum aims to bring together a broad audience interested in cultural justice and postcolonial reparations, including researchers, cultural professionals, practitioners, activists, and anyone who is curious about or engaged with these issues. Its purpose is to collectively explore the expectations, needs, aspirations, and limitations that shape the landscape of cultural justice and define the horizon of reparative practices.

The forum will include contributions from:

- Ludmila Duncan, Director of Scriptis and Editor-in-Chief of Originsss Magazine, Rotterdam.

- Kjelld Kroon, Community Organiser, Cultural Curator and Activist.

- Lianne Leonora, Director of the Mongui Maduro Library in Curaçao and co-author of ‘Slavery Heritage Guide Curaçao’.

- Vicky Arens-Tjon-A-Tjoe, Director of Cas di Cultura, Aruba's National Theatre and Cultural Centre.

And the screening of ‘Light Eye People’ (3'38), a short film by Mirella Muroni, filmmaker and writer.

18:30 - 19:30 – drinks

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Room: Studio, Pakhuis de Zwijger

19:30 - 21:00 – REPAIR Film Screenings

Presentation of documentaries and films, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

- Memoria Ancestral (2024), a documentary by Natusha Croes (Cas di Cultura).

- Savoneta (2008), a film by Gabri Christa.

- E cas a keda bashi [The house was empty] (1955), a film by Abraham Jesurun and Gloria Jesurun.

- Uní den Karnaval [United in Carnaval] (2023), a documentary by Bòi Antoin (FuHiKuBo).