Music Meeting

Cutting right across styles, genres and cultures, Music Meeting Festival had been providing a platform for over 35 years for the world’s best artists: musicians who have rarely or never performed in the Netherlands, with new projects or in special line-ups. During the festival weekend, Park Brakkenstein in Nijmegen is traditionally the setting for musical encounters, with over thirty concerts spread over three days. Music Meeting Festival does not limit itself to one music genre, but programmes a very range, covering everything from new co-productions by noted jazz musicians and the latest salsa from Cuba to Asian avant-garde.

The 2023 edition will correspond with the motto after James Baldwin "The light is always changing". Facing the radical changes in the world in the last few years, we would like to reflect on that in our program. The artists performing next year will come, for instance, from places like Ukraine and Iran. Opposing the war on one side and speaking for women's rights on the other. Musicians, who create a voice of new generations all around the world - young artists speaking to the young audience, who understand their needs and problems. From rich Arab culture to Black America and Afrofuturism.

By joining the Keychange initiative we have a strong obligation to present more and more female and non-binary leaders and instrumentalists on our stages. However, not only in terms of the music itself, but performative arts, spoken word and interdisciplinary interventions. Thanks to collaborations with local festivals and events focused on visual arts, new media and literature, we can broaden our audiences and focus.

The remained part of the festival will be the Music Meeting strength from the very beginning of the event. Curated projects, commission works, and new artistic challenges by pairing and connecting artists from the Netherlands, Benelux and other parts of the world - will remain our priority and characteristics. Also - developing young talents and promoting emerging artists by providing them with a stage to present their work will be our spotlight. Different types of workshops and artistic mentorship by leading Dutch artists like Jamie Peet - an acclaimed drummer, will be one of our priorities.