heske ten cate

Art can offer solace, but it can also be unsettling. At times, it serves as an outlet; at others, as a mirror—and increasingly, as a form of resistance. Justice is a matter of perspective: who is speaking, and what message they convey, truly matters. Heske ten Cate engages in a conversation with guest curator Sophie Straat and artist Jeremy Deller, exploring artistic choices, courage, discomfort, and what it means to remain true to one’s convictions. How do collective experiences shape our cultural memory?

Heske ten Cate is a curator, writer, and the artistic director of the new Amsterdam Museum. From 2017 through 2025, she served as director of the art space Nest in The Hague, and prior to that, she was editor-in-chief of Mister Motley. She has brought art into nightclubs, festivals, the streets, and other spaces where it might not be expected, yet where it can become an integral part of public and collective life. In collaboration with others, Heske has created exhibitions such as Good Mom/Bad Mom (at the Centraal Museum) and has worked on books, podcasts, and programs including Mothering Myths, Wat Niet is Maar Kan Zijn (What Is Not, But Could Be) en Naakt op een Kleedje (Naked on a Rug).