On November 11, 2024, the fourth edition of U?, the free city program of Le Guess Who?, will return to Utrecht. U? celebrates local and creative communities based in the Netherlands, with a strong focus on Utrecht. This year, U? will emphasize sustainable collaborations with local and regional partners, makers, and communities through its two main components: U? Festival and U? Projects.
U? Festival, taking place on Saturday, November 9, will transform the Cartesius area into a festival-playground featuring a diverse program showcasing independent and forward-thinking makers and communities. Collaborating with various venues such as KABUL à GoGo, dB’s, De Nijverheid, NAR, VOGELFREI, Hof van Cartesius, and more, U? Festival promises a vibrant and engaging experience for attendees.
In addition to U? Festival, U? Projects will host standalone events on different days and locations in collaboration with Utrecht-based organizations, ranging from grassroots collectives to cultural institutions. For example, there will be an exhibition at the Centraal Museum highlighting the diversity of contemporary makers from Morocco and the Moroccan diaspora in the Netherlands. A special event related to this exhibition will take place at Younity on Sunday, November 10, featuring performances by a female Moroccan Gnawa band, a fashion show by designers from BOKS and designers with Moroccan roots, and food and music curated by Buddy to Buddy Utrecht.
One of the unique aspects of U? is its emphasis on community curators. These emerging curators, deeply connected to their respective scenes and communities, play a vital role in shaping the U? program. For the 2024 edition, U? is collaborating with a diverse group of community curators, including YUMNA, a collective of young Muslim women exploring their relationships with faith; Ezgi Aktug – Maardewân, a community of creative migrants in the Netherlands; Bibi Bannink, an 18-year-old HKU student active in feminist punk and interdisciplinary concerts; Insan Larasti, a Rotterdam-based community organizer focusing on the Indonesian diaspora and Indoqueer events; and Raziyah Heath, an independent curator representing the BIPOC queer trans-community in music and art.
Overall, U? 2024 promises to be a dynamic and inclusive celebration of local creativity and collaboration, showcasing the rich tapestry of talent and diversity present in Utrecht and beyond. With a lineup of engaging events and community-driven initiatives, U? continues to be a beacon of artistic expression and cultural exchange in the heart of the Netherlands.