Official Opening Just Peace Festival and Exhibition

• Date: 11 June
• Time: 18:00 - 21:00
• Location: Amare

As the city of The Hague prepares to host the NATO summit, the Just Peace Festival opens a vital civic space — one where art, dialogue, and community come together to explore how we confront injustice and build peace from the ground up.

The festival officially opens with the launch of the Humanity in Times of Tension exhibition, a multidisciplinary art exhibition that confronts and reflects on the realities of human resilience, expression, and solidarity in an increasingly polarized world. Featuring contemporary artists from diverse geopolitical contexts, the exhibition explores the ways in which creativity acts both as a witness to conflict and a catalyst for connection. Together, the Opening Ceremony and Exhibition aim to inspire reflection, foster dialogue, and set the tone for the broader programme of the Just Peace Festival.

The exhibition is curated by NGO Dei and Human Rights in the Picture, in collaboration with The Hague Humanity Hub and venue partner Amare. 

What to expect:

Discover powerful contemporary art
Hear from civic leaders, artists, and activists
Experience stirring performances in dance and spoken word
Join a dynamic panel on art, storytelling and resilience
Connect with other festival contributors, partners and artists at the networking reception

Programme:

18:00 – Welcome

Arrival and informal gathering at Amare’s Kunstenplein

18:30 – Official Opening Programme
Opening remarks by:

• Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague (tbc)
• Prof. Annetje Ottow, President, Leiden University (tbc)
• Jill Wilkinson, The Hague Humanity Hub

Spoken Word Performance
Dance Performance – Hidden Within the Body
Artist Talk & Panel – Creativity in Times of Tension

20:00 – Exhibition Opens & Networking Reception
Enjoy the exhibition, meet the artists, curators and contributors of the Just Peace Festival, and join us for the networking reception with drinks.

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