Mission
Felix Meritis Connecting Cultures (FMCC) continues to express the values of the Enlightenment that in 1777 inspired the founders of the Felix Meritis Society. For FMCC art, culture, philosophy and politics are matters of everyday life.
We strengthen European Identity through Education, Art and Culture by developing knowledge-based projects to address today’s societal challenges, seeking innovative approaches in academic and citizenship education and arts & heritage practices.
Partners
In 2022 FMCC established a permanent formal partnership with its sister organisations: the Amsterdam Summer University (AMSU), focused on (higher) education, and the Society Felix Meritis (Genootschap Felix Meritis), an international network of artists, intellectuals, cultural entrepreneurs, journalists, and politicians, also operating with our new partner European House for Culture (2023). Since then, these three legal bodies are led by one board and one supervisory board mainly operating under the name FMCC.
Board (unremunerated)
Steve Austen is entrepreneur, director MBA Culture, Heritage & Citizenship at Netherlands Business Academy, publicist, lecturer and public speaker.
Linda Bouws is director Metropool Internationale Kunstprojecten, curator of art manifestations, and publicist.
Masja Austen has her own company and extensive experience in financial services for cultural organisations and artists.
Frederike Beltjes is a researcher and editor, with a background in international business, education and legal translation.
Freek van Duijn uses his decades of expertise in the theatre world to support cultural organisations and urban renewal projects.
Supervisory Board (unremunerated)
Ton van Haaften is professor emeritus at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics and Dean of the Honours Academy.
Huub van Haare Heijmeijer is owner at Driehaas Beheer B.V. He held banking and managerial positions in Europe and Latin & North America.
Akudo McGee is a senior Adviser on Democracy and the Rule of Law at the Council for Public Administration (Raad voor het Openbaar Bestuur, ROB).
Honorary Chair
Maarten Meijer worked for over 30 years as a notary in Amsterdam and has held many international positions, such as Vice-President of the European Affairs Commission of the International Union of Notaries.
ANBI
Stichting Vrienden van Felix Meritis, trade name Felix Meritis Connecting Cultures (FMCC), and Stichting Amsterdam Summer University, trade name Stichting Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University (AMSU) have both been designated by the tax authorities as a Public Benefit Organisation (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling).
Annual Reports: