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HKU and UvH sail together during Utrecht Pride

Botenparade tijdens Utrecht Pride

4 April 2024


HKU University of the Arts Utrecht (HKU) and the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH) will sail together in one boat at this year's annual boat parade on 1 June. The day is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, recognition and acceptance of everyone's own identity.


HKU and UvH see inclusive policies and the acceptance of lhbtiq+ persons as an important task. With their joint boat, the educational institutions actively propagate this policy. By doing so, they also want to contribute an inclusive Utrecht.


Joke van Saane, rector and president of the UvH: " For UvH, 'Diversity, Equity & Inclusion' is a spearhead for education, research and our organisation. Celebrating together and sharing with each other are central to this day, with a clear statement: equality is a basic requirement for our education and an integral part of our DNA. The event is organised by a joint committee of students and staff from both educational institutions - a great example of participation and equality as a basis."


Heleen Jumelet, chairman of HKU's Executive Board: "Everyone should feel seen, supported and appreciated, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. HKU makes an effort to achieve this and that is why we are also proud participants in Pride Utrecht. Diversity and Inclusion is not a theme for one day, but to work on all days. For HKU, it is one of the three bright spots in our organisation: we embed diversity and inclusion in policy and education. And our students create stimulating art that makes us think about all the themes that touch Pride. This will undoubtedly be seen soon on the boat that students from HKU and the University of Humanistic Studies are working on together." 


One of the initiators is HKU student Matthew van Londen: "For me, it is important that HKU participates in Pride to show that everyone at HKU is welcome and accepted for who they are. We want to celebrate diversity. We also want to participate for everyone who cannot or should not celebrate Pride themselves because they live in oppression. Pride is a celebration, but also a protest for more freedom for everyone."  


UvH students and co-organisers Anne Harteman and Yusriyah Momo concur: "At a time when conservative voices (worldwide) seem to be getting stronger, we are glad that our university, the place where we feel at home, is taking a stand by participating in the boat parade."

A theme for all days

The collaboration between HKU and UvH is not entirely new: already since last year, the educational institutions have been working together in Meaningful Artistic Research on the connection between art and science to promote multi-voicedness in society. Both educational institutions attach great importance to diversity and inclusion, and strive to create a safe working and learning environment where all students and staff in their diversity feel recognised and valued. 

Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (HKU) and the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH) will sail together in one boat at this year's annual boat parade on 1 June. The day is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, recognition and acceptance of everyone's own identity.