Celebrating Identity and Art: Groningen Pop-Up Prepares for Pride Weekend
- Lisa Pace
- Jun 20
- 4 min read
As Groningen prepares for Pride this weekend, a temporary art bar in the city center is building momentum towards the celebration. Organized by local platform De Nieuwe Editie, the space showcases emerging artists from Groningen in an experimental setting that will culminate with Pride-themed events, including a DJ set night.
From June 13 to 22, Studio Boter, usually a concept store, has become a vibrant pop-up for the Graduation Show of Minerva Art Academy. While the ten-day program was not designed solely as a queer space, its final weekend — with a Pride-themed workshop, music performances, and community gatherings — highlights how local creatives are fusing art with identity and celebration.
Although the Netherlands has a reputation for being progressive on LGBTQ+ rights, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that 1 out of 10 LGBTQ+ people are victims of violence, compared to 6 percent of the general population. As Europe experiences a broader shift to the political right, initiatives like the Art Shop & Bar take on new significance, offering creative spaces of solidarity at a time when public queer expression is under pressure.
The project is part of De Nieuwe Editie’s ongoing experiment as a “Nomad Gallery”, which aims to bring art to unexpected public places. By inviting Pride into that framework, the pop-up becomes a timely reflection of how grassroots platforms are opening new spaces for queer visibility as part of the city’s artistic fabric.
“I think art is a way of showing your emotions and your ideas about the world,” says Gijs Geertzen, co-founder of De Nieuwe Editie. “The Pride is a moment where everybody has the same idea and the same goal, which is that you can just be yourself. And I think art has the same goal.”
Similarly, Nathalie van Bergen, owner of Studio Boter, tells The Glass Room that her concept store has always aimed to be an inclusive space, showcasing queer art and featuring rainbow-themed items in the window display. “I was actually bummed out that Studio Boter wasn't open as the usual shop during Pride,” she says. “So it was a non-negotiable for me to do something with Pride, and they also thought the same.”
Van Bergen also expresses discomfort with how businesses become queer-friendly only for a few days, yet fail to show inclusivity beyond Pride month. “I think it’s important to do it every day of the year,” she says. “But it's also a way to celebrate who you are, and to show that you support people being who they are and loving who they want to love. In that sense, I think it's important to join in on the festivities.”
But what do the people of Groningen think of the Art Shop & Bar? Here is how a few visitors describe the atmosphere.
“I really like how bright it is, how everything blends in together,” says Naemi Bohlken. “A lot of bright colours, music in the background, food and drinks.”
Bohlken also says she appreciates how the space is used to highlight important topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, adding that “especially in Pride month, it's important to show that you're there, show that you're supportive.”
Likewise, another visitor, Sophie de Roode, expresses her excitement about the queer art exhibition happening at the Art Shop & Bar over the weekend. “I love Pride and I like to participate in it every year, but I feel like all the events surrounding it are very extroverted, like partying and getting loose,” she says. “And I love that because it's the day for it, but I also think it's very nice to have a place to wind down and have a more artistic look. So, I think this definitely will be unique in Pride.”
Showcased artwork by Minerva's Graduates © Lisa Pace
However, it is not only visitors taking in the atmosphere. Some of the artists also dropped by for a drink and a peek around, sharing how it feels to see their work on display in a setting like the Art Shop & Bar.
“This spot is really nice, very low-key,” says artist Danne Bouman. “It's a very easy transition from art school to being in galleries, because this is very much related to the people that are in Minerva and around Minerva. It's very familiar.”
While Bouman personally prefers exhibiting in a more traditional, white-cube-style gallery, she describes the Art Shop & Bar as a fun and engaging alternative. “It’s not about aesthetics,” she adds, noting that she enjoys being at the pop-up more than in the usual exhibition spaces.
At the same time, artist Goro Modic says he prefers this kind of setting over a traditional white-cube gallery. “Outside of the art world, galleries are perceived as these intellectual spaces where you have to understand things, but I don’t think that’s necessary for art,” he explains. He adds, “I like it when it’s not so sterile or demanding,” noting that he wants “regular people” to engage with his artwork, not just the art world crowd.
For the upcoming weekend, the Art Shop & Bar has a whole rainbow-colored agenda. Alongside exhibiting work by queer artists, the space will also host two special Pride-themed events on Saturday: a creative workshop and a music night featuring DJ Jazzy James.
In a climate where queer visibility across Europe remains contested, local initiatives like the Art Shop & Bar open up new possibilities for an inclusive and grassroots culture, offering a public space where LGBTQ+ identity, artistic expression, and community engagement come together.