“I am touched by how culture and film connect newcomers”

Three and a half years ago, when Esma moved from Turkey to Amsterdam, she faced a double challenge: building a new life while completing her doctorate in educational sciences. At the same time, she was supporting her family in an unfamiliar environment.

“Where do I begin?” Esma wondered upon arriving in the Netherlands. “I felt lost.” Thanks to the cultural coach project, she got to know neighbours and found her place in working life. That experience of being ‘new’ now drives her work as a cultural coach at De Taalschool, where she helps newcomer children and their families find their footing through art and culture.

Her son was nearly six when he started at De Taalschool in Amsterdam-Noord, a primary school that supports newcomer children in transitioning to mainstream education. The school invited them to join Club Taartrovers, an after-school cultural activity held on Wednesday afternoons for both children and their parents. “My introduction to Club Taartrovers was the starting point of my personal journey, from newcomer to cultural coach.”

Club Taartrovers is part of the cultural coach project at De Taalschool. Because newcomer children do not yet master Dutch, the programme is designed so that different mother tongues are not an obstacle. In an inspiring environment, children and parents learn and create together. “I enjoyed those Wednesday afternoon activities as much as the children did, watching films, baking and making music together.”

During the two months her son attended De Taalschool, Esma got to know the facilitators of Club Taartrovers. “In Turkey, I worked as a teacher and education coordinator, and that’s what we talked about.” They invited her to join as a programme developer, and one thing led to another: she was also offered the opportunity to work at Eye Filmmuseum as a workshop leader for school groups.

Esma seized every opportunity to gain work experience. “After the voluntary after-school activities, I began preparing for the role of cultural coach at De Taalschool, which allowed me to explore their connecting work. I could help out as a teaching assistant during film courses, gaining more insight into the work of cultural coaches.”

Gradually, Esma discovered how cultural coaches act as bridges within the community. “Their tasks range from leading cultural initiatives and giving workshops to developing school and after-school programmes.” In this way, they foster collaboration between schools and cultural institutions, strengthening social cohesion and cultural participation.

“Children from different countries and backgrounds can show who they are. They are genuinely proud when they have made a film together. We roll out the red carpet for their parents at the premieres, bringing them closer to cultural life too, and helping families get to know one another.”

For Esma, De Taalschool is much more than just a place to teach. In her role as cultural coach, she helps create a warm meeting place where newcomer children and their parents can experience culture together, fostering a sense of community. “I found this especially valuable myself.” She also sees how this approach, in which families meet weekly, benefits others.

“We visited a museum with a small group of parents. One mother, who had worked as an artist in Ukraine, was moved to tears when she saw the art. She realised how much she had missed the creative process, because until then she hadn’t had the chance to resume her work.” The families encouraged her to try, asking her to lead workshops for the group. Esma recalls: “She agreed. Now she has a studio again and has resumed working as an artist.”

Esma is deeply moved to see how parents support one another in feeling at home, and how culture, film and creativity help newcomers feel connected and find their place within society. The impact of cultural coaches’ work on children and families has surprised her. “I could never have imagined this beforehand. For me, everything has fallen into place with this work. I often tell parents: I was like you, everything was new, and I began in the same way.”

About the cultural coach project in Amsterdam-Noord

This project builds bridges between home, school and the wider city. Six cultural coaches working in eight primary schools in Noord help children and families not only to integrate into cultural life, but also to contribute to it in mutually enriching ways.

Launched in 2022, the project is a collaboration between Eye Filmmuseum, Taartrovers, Cinekid, NurLimonade Media and Filmhub Noord-Holland. Each organisation contributes its own educational programmes, which are integrated into the cultural coach activities.

Thanks to a grant from the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK), applied for by Eye Filmmuseum, Esma will continue to be a familiar face at De Taalschool for the next three years. This funding makes it possible to embed cultural education structurally in schools such as De Taalschool, where cultural coaches like Esma not only foster creative skills but also contribute to the broader development of pupils in an inclusive and opportunity-rich learning environment.