OPENING ARTEZ ZWOLLE REFERENCE In order to celebrate the opening of a new building the Art Academy in Zwolle organised a symposium: Contemporary Rituals in a World of Globalisation. The shinto master performed the purification ritual of the opening ceremony. The academy is located in the Dutch Bible Belt. Some drama students expressed their concern that a Japanese ritual might evoke bad spirits that would harm the school for many generations. Consequently they opposed the ceremony, stating in a Dutch newspaper that any spirit that does not come from the Christian God, is evil. Using all the charms of shinto, which is basically the principle of anekant, the introduction by the shinto master could take away the students’ fear. After the successful opening ceremony he gave an interview on Dutch radio to explain the many-sidedness of shinto.   Opening Ceremony new building ArtEZ Zwolle CABK, ArtEZ academie voor beeldende kunsten Zwolle 2006 March 21 . OPENINGCEREMONY 2000 Festival Oude Muziek Hoorn 2005 Club Musk Hilversum 2005 Wereldmuseum Rotterdam 2006 ArtEZ Zwolle 2008 Stone Statue Zoetermeer  2009  Vanderven & Vanderven ‘s Hertogenbosch   © 1981 JAPANESE DUTCH SHINZEN FOUNDATION