Connection between Western and Eastern Europe through the prism of culture and urbanism
Narada aims to connect Eastern Europe and Western Europe through cultural activities including architecture, urban planning, design, visual arts and performing arts.
On the website we share the highlights of recent projects and research topics.
Projects
Currently, we focus on Ukraine, because of the russian invasion. The main project scopes are:
1. art projects related to the Ukrainian culture in the current context.
2. projects on recovery and reconstruction, with Ro3kvit as a cooperation partner;
We are always open to any cultural project or initiative fulfilling the aims of Narada.
FIGHT, FLIGHT or FREEZE?
2025-2026
Fear is one of the most basic human emotions. From childhood, we are equipped with the survival instincts necessary to react with fear when we sense danger. Fear helps to protect us. Fear is ubiquitous and inevitable in Ukraine.
Everyone reacts differently to it, stays, leaves, copes with it, fights. Everyone reacts to it differently, staying, leaving, coping, fighting. Everyone makes their own choices and looks for a way out. And every choice leads to questions, doubt, guilt. In families, this leads to intense emotions, misunderstandings and deep divisions, but also to great closeness and familiarity. It creates distance and hope.
The designers Daryna Pasyuta and Marjo van Schaik, together with their immediate family, experience this also. It inspired them to create this project, an exhibition with a rich programme, starting in Eindhoven at the Dutch Design Week. An exhibition that encourages reflection, emotion, awareness and perhaps even curiosity.
Homeland Dutch design week Eindhoven & Gent
Design Museum
2022-2023
War in Ukraine has taken homes from millions. Many had to leave their native lands and (re)shape their notion of home anew, relocating and adapting their beliefs, traditions and rituals to new geographies & customs. Home(land) contextualizes Ukrainian narratives to the framework of The Netherlands.
Growing Gunya
Mediamatic Amsterdam
2023
Gunya is a Ukrainian traditional wool coat, originally worn by Hutsul shepherds in the Carpathian mountains. Providing physical protection from severe weather and animals, throughout the years it has carried a deep symbolic meaning, serving as an amulet for its owners.
Recovery Ukraine
2022 - ongoing
It is a delicate subject to think about reconstruction while the war is still going on. But it is important to be ready to cope with all the huge reconstruction tasks. Therefore the Ukrainian NGO Ro3kvit has been established by Fulco Treffers together with Oleg Drozdov (architect and founder of the Kharkiv School of Architecture). Narada and Ro3kvit are partners in several projects about recovery of Ukraine.
Several projects on knoweldge sharing on public stages and media have been developed.
In 2024, Narada led a study project about circular opportunities in affordable housing for refugees in Ukraine, supported by RVO (NL).​
Research
We are convinced that a better connection between Eastern and Western Europe is important not only because of political stability, but mainly because a mutual connection is enriching and inspiring. Back and forth, there is much to research, to learn and to discover. Research along different and shared experiences, narratives and value patterns can offer insights that lead to a different vision of society leading to more equality and mutual understanding.
Carpathian (Ukraine) residency
Marjo van Schaik and Dasha Tsapenko stayed in Yavoriv, Carpathian mountains in January 2023. The aim was to explore the possibilities of the template of the gunya, using Dutch discarded wool and to experiment with natural dyes, using bilberries typical for the region. We worked in harsh conditions without heating. Light and running water was only supplied at intervals, because of the Russian attacks on energy supplies. Our experiment resulted in a piece fully crafted on the spot. This gunya is bought by the Textile Museum in Tilburg.
Culture commons for resilient Ukraine
Article for ICCPR – international conference for cultural policy research
No matter what set a conflict in motion, whether it be a democratic or non-democratic regime, the ultimate target of any war is to destroy the cultural identity of the other. Currently this happens in Ukraine. Theatres, libraries, and museums are well aimed targets. It is urgent to restore these cultural venues and the vibrant communities that are giving sense of identity and liveliness. Yet, finances are limited, and priority lies not with restoring cultural heritage. However, there is an abundance of public spaces in Ukrainian cities.
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Marjo van Schaik did conduct a research study on this topic: in what way could get these public spaces meaning in restoring cultural networks, identity and pride. Combining her practical experience in Ukraine with literature analyses, Marjo proposed "the commons". The key question is: can the model of commons for culture in public space re-establish and fuel community life, cultural connectivity, and sense of belonging in Ukraine?
Case studies were amongst others Urban Space 100 in Ivano-Frankivsk (left picture) and Chernihiv wooden lace volunteers (picture right).
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Download the article here.
Achmeta (Georgia)
field trip
In Achmeta Marjo van Schaik visited an old Soviet time spinning factory, recently brought back in business, as well as a felting atelier and a workshop using natural ingredients for dying. This research gave new insights in felting techniques, models of gunya, as well as inspiration for using different natural materials for dying.
![IMG_7798[4][1].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b61429_3245a99fd25f492dbb64b0d079140c2f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_931,h_400,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/b61429_3245a99fd25f492dbb64b0d079140c2f~mv2.jpg)
About
The NGO Narada is still young but has been in our minds for a long time. Its founders, Fulco Treffers and Marjo van Schaik, each have been active in the national and international cultural field for many years. Since 2016, they have jointly organised several international cultural activities. The focus was increasingly on activities in and exchange of knowledge and expertise with Ukraine. Recent developments have strengthened the intensity of these activities and led to the foundation of Narada.
Mission:
We are convinced that a better connection between Eastern and Western Europe is important because a mutual connection is enriching and inspiring. Back and forth, there is much to learn and discover, meta narratives as well as individual experiences. A search along different and shared experiences, narratives and value patterns can offer insights that lead to a different vision of society leading to more equality or at least mutual understanding.
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Narada wants to contribute to that quest. In doing so, cultural activities naturally provide a good breeding ground. Through culture, it is possible to share insights, touch and connect emotionally. The current situation in Ukraine adds another important aspect: from equality and connection can support good care for each other.
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Registration and documents:
Chamber of commerce (KvK): 87562081
RSIN: 864331010
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NGO Narada has been granted ANBI status.
(in Dutch: Algemeen Nut beogende Instelling).
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Click here to download the Narada policy plan.
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Click here to download the annual report 2024.
Click here to download the financial report 2024.
Board:
Narada has a three-member board with Cees de Graaff as chairman, Frans Werter as treasurer and Nazar Gresko as member. Cees de Graaf and Frans Werter each have years of international (governance) experience in various policy areas. Nazar Gresko was born and raised in Ukraine and has been living and working in the Netherlands as an architect for 8 years.
Bio Fulco Treffers:
Fulco Treffers connects to the place by connecting to people. The residents are his main focus, their ownership and responsibility to their own future. His urban planning studio 12N Urban Matters works in and on the city. Fulco Treffers translates, shares and connects to design principles, which leads to new insights and results. Since 2015 he is working in Ukraine, what resulted in several educational and reconstruction projects related to the Kharkiv School of Architecture. Fulco Treffers is co-founder and CEO of Ro3kvit, urban coalition for Ukraine. In Ro3kvit he developed strategic integrated recovery visions for Mariupol, Dnipro River and several other areas.
Bio Marjo van Schaik:
Marjo van Schaik began her career in the corporate sector. Subsequently she worked at National Opera and Ballet in Amsterdam. In 2009 she founded her own company Mare and combines research, design and curating with teaching and strategic management. In 2018 Spaces of Culture, her PhD research on the development of cultural venues in the network society, was published by NAI publishers. Currently she does research on cultural strategies and public space both in Ukraine and Amsterdam. Her articles have been published a.o. in Springer SDG series 2023. Also, she works as an artist. Her works have been exhibited at the Dutch Design Week, Mediamatic and the Gent Design Museum and purchased a.o. by Textiel Museum Tilburg.
