July 2026 | The Netherlands

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Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC), through its #RespectArtists initiative, is informing the public about ongoing legal proceedings involving Wij Zijn DOX and is calling for greater transparency, accountability, and fair treatment of artists in the administration of publicly funded cultural projects.

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The parties appeared before the Dutch court for their first hearing on 30 June 2026. The current proceedings concern ACDC's application for the disclosure of documents and greater transparency regarding the administration of public funding received by Wij Zijn DOX in relation to activities involving ACDC's Dance Intersect programme and the matters giving rise to the dispute between the parties.

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ACDC states that the requested disclosure is necessary to establish the factual record relating to the matters giving rise to the dispute, including disputed funding applications, disputed claims regarding co-producer status, the alleged unauthorized use of Anderson Carvalho's and ACDC's artistic, organisational and programme development, contractual arrangements, the administration of public funding, and other matters that ACDC believes are relevant to the broader dispute between the parties. According to ACDC, the documents sought in these proceedings are intended to clarify these issues and may inform any subsequent legal proceedings that become necessary.

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ACDC maintains that no agreement governing the proposed contractual arrangements between the parties in respect of ACDC's Dance Intersect programme was ever finalized or signed, as no agreement was ever reached. According to ACDC, the absence of a signed agreement is one of the reasons why access to the requested documentation is essential to establish the relevant facts surrounding the parties' dealings, their respective rights and obligations, and the events giving rise to the present dispute.

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The funding at issue relates to a four-year cultural OCW subsidy awarded for the 2025–2028 funding period in connection with ACDC's international programme ACDC Dance Intersect, including activities in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Kigali. ACDC contends that Wij Zijn DOX received this public funding as if it was collaborating with ACDC, while ACDC itself has not received any funding relating to those activities. The circumstances surrounding that funding form part of the current disclosure proceedings.

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ACDC is seeking full transparency regarding the total amount of public funding awarded. Based on information provided by an anonymous individual claiming to possess knowledge of internal matters at Wij Zijn DOX, ACDC believes the subsidy may exceed EUR 1 million. However, ACDC has not independently verified that amount and is seeking confirmation through the appropriate legal and administrative processes.

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ACDC further states that other information provided by this source led it to documents that have since been confirmed to exist and that correspond with information disclosed during the legal proceedings. Nevertheless, ACDC continues to regard the total subsidy amount as unverified until officially confirmed.

According to ACDC, Wij Zijn DOX has declined to confirm or deny the total subsidy amount and has not included the requested funding documentation in its court filings. Instead, ACDC states that Wij Zijn DOX has requested that the court impose a confidentiality obligation, including a proposed penalty of EUR 1 million, should ACDC publicly disclose funding amounts that may become available through any court-ordered disclosure.

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As part of its application for disclosure, ACDC states that it has already obtained documentary evidence relating to several of the issues underlying the broader dispute between the parties. This includes documents in which Hildegard Draaijer communicated that there was no Dutch public funding available for activities in South Africa and Rwanda. ACDC contends that this position appears difficult to reconcile with the subsequent award of public funding to Wij Zijn DOX for the 2025–2028 funding period, despite ACDC's claimed role in the relevant activities and the fact that ACDC has not received any of those funds.

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ACDC maintains that access to the remaining requested documents is necessary to establish the complete factual record regarding the funding, the parties' respective roles, the proposed contractual arrangements between the parties, the asserted co-producer status, the alleged unauthorized use of Anderson Carvalho's and ACDC's artistic, organisational and programme development, and the administration of the public funding connected to the activities that form the subject of this dispute.

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ACDC further notes that the individuals directly involved in the events giving rise to the broader dispute are no longer employed by or affiliated with Wij Zijn DOX. However, ACDC maintains that institutional accountability remains with the organization itself, regardless of changes in personnel. The current proceedings therefore continue against Wij Zijn DOX as the recipient of the public funding and the contracting organization.

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Through the #RespectArtists initiative, ACDC advocates for greater transparency in the allocation and administration of public cultural funding, equitable treatment of artists and creative collaborators, and stronger governance standards within publicly funded cultural institutions. ACDC believes that artists, taxpayers, and the wider cultural sector deserve clarity about how public resources are awarded, managed, and accounted for.

 

ACDC emphasizes that the current proceedings are limited to obtaining transparency and documentary disclosure. The court has not yet been asked to determine the merits of the parties' broader dispute, which includes issues relating to proposed contractual arrangements, disputed co-producer status, the alleged unauthorized use of Anderson Carvalho's and ACDC's artistic, organisational and programme development, the administration of public funding, and related matters. Those issues may become the subject of subsequent proceedings once the requested disclosure process has been completed.

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ACDC respects the independence of the Dutch judicial system and will continue to pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channels. Wij Zijn DOX disputes ACDC's position, and the matters described in this release remain the subject of ongoing legal proceedings before the Dutch court. ACDC will provide further public updates as information becomes available through the legal process.

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Media Contact

Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography

#RespectArtists