We regard colonial heritage not as static objects but as living beings that embody stories and meaning.

Beyond Walls initiates and curates independently and in collaboration with a diverse range of partners, encompassing research, public programming, exhibitions, documentaries, artistic interventions, and advisory roles.

We believe in the transformative power of research, storytelling, and art to foster both intellectual and emotional connections in addressing colonial legacies and heritage.

Beyond Walls strives for long-term (international) collaborations and structural changes, both within and beyond institutional frameworks. The collective works with diverse communities, academic and cultural institutions to center historically marginalized stories and perspectives in decision-making about the meaning and future of heritage.

We prioritize long-term partnerships and structural impact, with a focus on building transnational relationships that deepen our understanding of (de)coloniality beyond our own contexts.

International knowledge exchange is at the heart of our practice, fostering new perspectives, enriching our work, and driving ongoing development. Through lectures and participation in global exchanges, we actively engage with international audiences to broaden the conversation on decolonization and transformative change.

Key to our work method is the combination of research, storytelling and art.

Agency, locality and co-creation are core pillars of our approach. Inspired by Taiye Selasi’s vision on locality and the critical work on unlearning imperialism by Ariella Aïsha Azoulay.

We center the impact of Dutch/European colonialism, as well as questions on political and institutional responsibility and accountability. This way we address the entanglement of personal stories, colonial history and contemporary world we live in.