Wieke Eringa: “There seems to be a ‘can do’ vibe — which is exciting”
The Cultural Institute welcomes new Associate Director, Wieke Eringa. We caught up with Wieke to see how she’s getting on with her new role.
How are your first few weeks at the Cultural Institute?
“Falling with your nose in the butter” is a Dutch saying describing unexpected luck and fortune by being in the right place and time. That pretty much describes my mood after 3 weeks of being welcomed by a range of generous, smart, interesting people who really care about making a difference.
What are your campus highlights so far?
Some campus discovery highlights have been the heron, the peregrine falcons, St. George’s Field (including one very interesting headstone!), the Monet and Stanley Spencer in the The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery and early Shakespeare folios — astonishing artefacts. By mentioning these I demonstrate how I’m easily seduced by well-known ‘high’ art but it’s the students browsing for their posters and pot plants and how my new colleagues have been open and welcoming to me that is all part of the vibrant culture here.
I notice you have a painting of bikes on your desk, could you tell me a bit more about that?
I’m a Dutch national and was given that print by one of my closest friends who I met whilst studying Theatre studies at the University of Amsterdam, what seems like million years ago. The print represents courage and love, much needed during the years at Yorkshire Dance. It feels like I have my roots with me now it cheers up the Cultural Institute office.
Speaking of cycling, do you like to get out in nature? If so, what’s your favourite Yorkshire walk/cycle route?
Nature is a huge passion and right now I love finding new ways of cycling to work through the woods; picking all the autumn fruit and planting heaps of tree seeds. I’m even attempting propagating avocados! We’ve got a wee dog, Juno and a favourite walk at the moment is Hetchell Crags.
What are you most looking forward to working on?
I’ve so far dipped my toes in by attending the Advisory Group for Living Bodies Objects — a fascinating project examining coproduction and co-creation and reading some brilliant project proposals that advance interdisciplinary research on topics such as heritage and storytelling around menstruation; developing public engagement with climate emergency data through digital media and cultural bias in Artificial Intelligence. It feels like a whole world is opening up and I’m starting to see how I can contribute with my passion for culture, art, people and our planet.
The implementation of the University strategy which emphasises Culture, Impact and Community, is potentially a radically different way of working and I’m excited to be part of the change process that I witness going on which feels genuine and urgent. There seems to be a ‘can do’ vibe — which is exciting.
What kind of ‘culture’ we want to connect with; and how we can develop a strong sense of and engagement with culture will be some our questions this year. I look forward to facilitating a dialogue about this with our wider team and to the intellectual challenge of learning about being in a research-intensive environment. Of course, I look forward to seeing some of our projects like Campus Live and the Creative Labs in action and I can’t wait to start working with our many cultural partners and artists in the city and beyond. The cultural sector is facing a very real crisis, of rising salary and utility costs and I hope to find ways in which the University can make a positive contribution.
All of this is of course rooted in my passion for dance and embodiment; embodiment as an integrated way of experiencing the word and making human connection. Let’s see where that leads us to!
Wieke Eringa has been a prominent and highly respected cultural leader for the best part of twenty years. Following spells with Sadlers Wells and Northern Ballet she has been Chief Executive and Artistic Director at Yorkshire Dance since 2007. Wieke’s career to date has been driven by the transformational power of dance and its potential as a catalyst for change in contemporary society.
Wieke studied in her native Netherlands before being awarded undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and professional qualifications by three UK universities. She has an excellent knowledge and experience of working with a range of partners, not least with Higher Education. Wieke has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the University of Leeds via collaboration on a number of externally funded projects, all of which generated research publications and notable impact.
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