Collecting Beats brings people together to create a collaborative impact on society through arts

I'm Maite van der Marel, musician, artistic leader and strategist working at the intersection of community, arts and societal change.

My work starts from a simple belief: that music and arts can move people in ways nothing else can. Not as decoration, but as a genuine space where something shifts. Where people connect across difference, discover new perspectives, and realise what they're capable of. Where both musical beats and human heartbeats flourish.

This belief came from years of working in the field. In marginalised neighbourhoods in Utrecht, in refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, in conservatories and community spaces across the Netherlands and Latin America. Each context different. The core question always the same: how can art generate meaningful dialogue and real transformation?

From that question, I developed Collecting Beats, built around three pillars: community activation, training and artistic cross-sector interventions. I see connections others miss, and I know how to build environments where both individual and collective potential can flourish.

My leadership style is explorative, empathetic and strategic. I ask the questions that open things up, and I create the space for people to show up fully and authentically.

If that resonates, I'd love to connect.