Jonatan Nordentoft de Regt is occupied daily as a musician and cultural entrepreneur in the city of Aarhus in Denmark. Currently involved as a project coordinator in the newly established cultural platform “Open the Kimono”, that aims to create an international conglomerate of cultural platforms, based in Aarhus.

Very often cultural industries and organisations find themselves in a very precariuos situation, where on one hand they are undervalued by a society fixated on old concepts of value, while on the other hand facilitating their own displacement by driving real estate value up and hereby strengthening the proces of gentrification.

Fueled by the proces of globalization and digitalization there is now a great need for unionization and innovation in the cultural field, between industries as well as across borders.

Jonatan was selected for the project “European Youth at the frontlines of active citizenship: A Roadmap towards a collective South-North-East-West Momentum” organized by Volunteers Centre Skopje and supported by European Commission due to Erasmus+ European Youth Together programme.

What is the project about?

– By establishing a consortium of active CCI´s in the cultural sector of Aarhus, the aim is to create a platform for development of new initiatives, platforms and events. Concerned with cultural disruption and lobbying. One methodology native to this group is the conversion of so-called “Non-spaces” into Cultural Spaces.

Why should one “Open the Kimono”?

– Its a saying native to silicon valley, meaning that organizations should collaborate by openly sharing their data and ressources and work around common goals. This sense of intimicay is often feared in the creative cultural industries, where competition rather than collaboration is often seen as the dominant reality.

Short description of the background of the project?

– OTK is the latest development in a major conglomerate in the cultural field of Aarhus, of organisations shifting towards a more cosmopolitan ideology in cultural production and facilitation. In this way promoting Aarhus as an upcoming international centre for art and culture.

What will I consider a succesful outcome of OTK?

– If we manage to unite the cultural sector of Aarhus under a comglomerate promoting cosmopolitan value, that would be a very good outcome in my opinion. The next phase of OTK will seek to expand this platform to include likeminded institutions in cultural cities across Europe and Africa, thus promoting international synergi, cultural dialogue and co-creation.

Jonatan Nordentoft de Regt