Artist

Changing Stories stands for the right of every child to play and be creative. Through pop-up arts and theatre programmes we provide space for imagination and play with children in asylum centres, emergency shelters, and camps at the borders of Europe. As an artist at Changing Stories, you will provide creative and interactive sessions with children on the move. Depending on your experience and availability, you may also join international projects at Europe’s borders or art projects with unaccompanied minors.

We are looking for performers who feel a strong commitment to social justice for children on the move, love to imagine and explore through theatre and play, have experience in theatre, clowning, performance, or arts education, have experience or enthusiasm for working with children and teenagers, enjoy working in a diverse team and learning from each other, and want to develop your artistic skills and theoretical knowledge. Working with Changing Stories is project-based, with most projects taking place during weekends and school holidays.

We plan ahead and discuss your availability, so you can choose which projects to join. This is what a year working with Changing Stories would look like: 10 team training days on Saturdays throughout the year at our theatre space in Arnhem, 1 team weekend focussing on in-depth training, theory and team building, 6+ sessions at centres throughout the Netherlands, possibly 1 or 2 international projects somewhere between 5 to 10 days, and possibly between 2 to 10 workshops with unaccompanied minors at shelters in Arnhem.

We especially welcome artists who bring one or more of the following experiences, skills, or qualities: experience working with children and young people on the move, lived experience of (forced) displacement or experience in navigating unfamiliar cultures, emotional resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to navigate challenging situations, flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and reflect. A driver’s licence (category B) is a plus.

We offer working with a direct impact on children and young people who have experienced displacement, practical and theoretical training, a diverse and supportive team of artists, and freelance fees for project days in the Netherlands: € 76 per session (half-day), or € 114 for designing and leading a workshop for unaccompanied minors (half-day). These fees include a voluntary contribution of part of the working hours. Apply by 1 December 2026 by completing our application form and submitting your CV via our online application form.

Instead of a traditional letter, this form will ask everyone the same questions, giving you the opportunity to share your experience, motivation and strengths in your own words. You can also apply by sending a video application (maximum 3 minutes) to [e-mailadres]. To join our team, you must be at least 21 years old, based in the Netherlands and planning to stay in the Netherlands for at least the next 12 months. After the deadline, we will review all applications and make an initial selection based on your answers.

If selected, you will be invited to a 20-minute online conversation about your motivation and experience on 9 or 10 December, and then to an in-person theatre audition in Arnhem on Sunday 13 December. There are also online info sessions on Saturday 14 November and Wednesday 18 November.