ThankstoourFans
Melkweg is a non-profit organisation that invests in young talent and innovative programmes. With your support, we can keep doing this.
It all starts at Melkweg
For over fifty years, Melkweg has been a place where new voices can be heard. We believe that a vibrant, forward-thinking cultural sector can only thrive if new talent has the space to grow — even without a degree or network. That’s why we actively make room for young artists and creators in our concerts, club nights, and exhibitions.
Chances are, the artist you love took their very first steps on our stage. The club night you can’t miss each month may have started in our attic. The creator whose work inspires you could have mounted their very first exhibition with our team in the Expo. Even the festival you attend every year might have begun when someone here held an artist’s rider for the first time.
At Melkweg, it all begins — often long before the big crowds are watching
A Steppingstone for Talent
In our venue, artists still flying under the radar get the chance to present their talent. Creators who experiment, explore, and take risks, often long before the wider public discovers them. We programme boldly and adventurously, so we can continue to surprise you while giving new artists and creators a realstepping stone.
For many, Melkweg is the starting point of their career. Here, they gain stage experience, build a fanbase, and grow from our small stages to the big ones. In Melkweg RADAR, we present emerging Dutch acts to new audiences, giving talent the space to develop and break through.
Take, for example, S10: now selling out the Ziggo Dome. She took her first steps on our stage, in our smallest room, supported by our talent development programme.
"Melkweg holds a unique and crucial place in the development of pop artists and bands: offering technical facilities as well as behind-the-scenes support for organising and promoting young talent. Simply vital for the city!"
Guidance from the start
Alongside the established artists you see on our stage, we also help a new generation navigate the culture sector — both onstage and behind the scenes. Every year, we guide young musicians, artists, technicians, programme makers, and producers as they take their first steps in their careers.
Within Melkweg Young Creatives, they learn how to set up a show, understand technical production, and make their work visible to both audiences and industry professionals. We provide coaching, tailored development programmes, and access to networks and venues that would otherwise inaccesible. This way, they grow into creative forces driving the cultural sector forward.
We also work closely with various educational institutions. Many students host their graduation shows or first exhibitions with us, with our team supporting them in production, technical setup, and marketing. This collaboration results each year in special events and programmes, such as IMPACT+ and Arty Party.
"I loved hosting my graduation show at Melkweg. It was my first time organising my own event, so I wasn’t quite sure what it would involve. The step-by-step guidance from the Melkweg team was incredibly helpful."
Supporting emerging ideas and nurturing creative talent is in our DNA. Melkweg is a place where new ideas can flourish and where creators can grow without needing to have all the answers. However, giving these opportunities takes time, guidance, expertise, and space.
Our Fans make it possible for us to keep offering that space
Will you help us?