World Expo Osaka 2025
12 April 2025 - 12 October 2025
From 13 April to 13 October 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan will host the World Expo 2025: a global event where more than 160 countries and organisations are brought together for cultural exchange and cooperation. Nieuwe Instituut is appointed as curator of the cultural programme for the Dutch pavilion. This programme will explore a range of themes and disciplines, aligning with the pavilion’s overarching theme, Common Ground, which emphasises collaboration and dialogue.
The curatorial team, consisting of the Nieuwe Instituut and co-curator Vincent Schipper (Studio the Future), drew inspiration from two key historical examples: the Dutch magazine Avenue, which ran from 1965 to 2003, and the Netherlands Pavilion for the 1970 Osaka World Expo, designed by Jaap Bakema and Carel Weeber. Themed Activating Common Ground, the programme formed a 'live magazine' composed of talk shows, performances, showcases, specials, inserts, reflections and travels, and was built on collaborations between creators and organisations based in the Netherlands and Japan.
