FAD managed to grab some time with the super busy director of Amsterdam Art Week (AAW) Martina Halsema. We wanted to know more about AAW what makes it special and why it’s worth a visit.
What’s happening this year?
Amsterdam Art Week is set to be an exhilarating celebration of contemporary art, showcasing a diverse range of exhibitions, performances, talks, and special events across the city. We’re thrilled to present a curated selection of cutting-edge artwork from established but also many emerging artists, offering visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the vibrant art scene of Amsterdam.
What’s new for AAW?
This year, Amsterdam Art Week is introducing several exciting new initiatives aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and fostering dialogue within the art community.
This year we shine a spotlight on Amsterdam Noord, a bustling artistic district, that collaborates for the Amsterdam Noord Night, Saturday 1st June. The programme includes young artists, performances, film screenings, artist talks, art in public spaces, and a visit to a private collection. Visitors can discover locations such as the Eye Filmmuseum in a special collaboration with the Prince Claus Fund, Nxt Museum who will organise two interesting performances by ICK Dans, newcomers like Gallery of Fanny Freytag and semester9 at PROJECTSPACE 38/40 will organise festive drinks and artist conversations.
Welcome Stranger invited Amsterdam-based artists to make new, temporary artworks on the facades of their homes. In doing so, they are revealing something personal in public space within their own neighborhood. In Amsterdam Noord that will be Kristina Benjocki. SEXYLAND World, a unique venue in the city for cultural freedom and creative experimentation. A place that everyone must visit at least once, and where many often return, lingering until the early hours of the morning, will host several performances and exhibitions and the official after-party.
We are organising a mini-symposium about Cultural Ecosystems & Changing Landscapes. We explore the resilience and adaptability of arts and cultural sectors in the face of rapidly evolving political, and international environments. This theme delves into how cultural organisations and individual artists sustain their economic and artistic viability when confronted with shifting political priorities, funding cuts but also geopolitical developments.
What lessons can be learned from cultural ecosystems that have successfully navigated through significant political changes? How do we build solidarity and stand up to the arts in times of political unbalance and how do we shape our advocacy for artists? This is a collaboration with Dutch Culture, Prince Claus Fund, De Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, De Appel and Framer Framed.
What’s your background with AAW and how did you come to join?
A career in the arts didn’t come naturally. Initially, I thought I’d pursue a future in law, but after 1.5 years, I switched to studying art education and later pursued a master’s in the art market. Nonetheless, the corporate world has always fascinated me, with a deep passion for the cultural sector. Sometimes, these worlds seem separate, but they need each other to inspire, support, and collaborate. I was already familiar with the organisation and had collaborated with them when I worked for the Dutch Central Bank in their Art Collection department. I knew the then-director of Amsterdam Art, a board member, and a former employee. They each independently recommended me when a vacancy arose for head of programme and partnerships. I’ve always held the organisation dear to my heart, especially its mission and vision.
This will be my second edition as director. I became the director 1.5 years ago. As director, I believe in connecting people with art and the impact art can have. When this opportunity for advancement arose, I felt it was important to further champion the foundation’s mission as director and to give it my own interpretation. I have a great love for the talent and the diverse art institutions in the city. This makes the city unique, and I believe I can make a significant contribution to it. My passion for contemporary art and commitment to supporting local artists led me to join AAW, where I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with talented individuals and organisations.
Can you let us know what not to miss?
There are so many incredible exhibitions and events to explore during Amsterdam Art Week, but some highlights always include our opening together with the Rijksakademie and their Open Studios. Every year, I am continually surprised and challenged by the work showcased by 44 national and international artists midway or towards the end of their residency period. Take ample time to visit the studios, as there is much to discover. This year, Off Spring of De Ateliers also takes place during Amsterdam Art Week. De Ateliers is an international institution for the development of young visual artists and accommodates around twenty artists. A new interesting addition this year is the participation of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie. During Amsterdam Art Week, they present 16 projects by artists who graduated between 2021 and 2023 on the 1000-square-metre roof of one of the three academy buildings.
Also the unique performance by Billy Bultheel: The Thief’s Journal: Songs of Decreation, which marks the beginning of the Time Crystals performance programme. Bultheel’s compositions span various genres, blending new music, noise, electronics, and metal with influences from Medieval and Renaissance polyphonic traditions. Investigating architectural space as a musical instrument, “The Thief’s Journal: Songs of Decreation” is composed for nine musicians, merging live and electronic music with site-specific performance and scenography within the Brutalist architecture of the Thomas Church.
How is it funded and how did it begin?
The Amsterdam Art Week began as a grassroots initiative by a group of collectors, entrepreneurs, gallery owners and the Rijksakademie, who saw the need for a platform to showcase Amsterdam’s burgeoning art scene on an international stage. Amsterdam Art Week is primarily funded through a combination of public and private sources, including grants, sponsorships and participant fees. Because we want to keep art accessible, most events are free and we don’t charge admission or tickets. Only for specific events is this an exception. We have just started Friends and Benefactors Circles to call on the financial support of individuals and to form a special network together to support the arts.
How does it differentiate from other gallery weekends and art weeks?
What sets Amsterdam Art Week apart, is that Amsterdam is a global city but on a very small scale with top international talent. A place where you can really discover new talent, walk along the canals and with a great history for experimentation in the arts. We have a great network of project spaces that showcase internationally acclaimed exhibitions and also the galleries are not to compare with the blue chip galleries in other international art capitals like London, Paris, New York. Most galleries have just a gallery in Amsterdam but work on an international scale, helping artists in their international careers and giving them space to experiment.
Outside of the programme what else is there to do and see, where should FAD stay/eat/drink/relax?
Amsterdam is a vibrant city with no shortage of attractions and amenities to explore beyond the art week programme. We have teamed up with some amazing Hotel Partners like Pillows Hotel. They house a beautiful art collection, two restaurants, one more brasserie with a lovely terrace where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the Oosterpark and a more upscale restaurant on the first floor. Downstairs you will also find a bar (with a Picasso), where you can relax with a nice cocktail. I would definitely recommend a stroll along the canals. You can stop at our second hotel partner Pulitzer for a nice lunch or drink in their garden. My personal favourite restaurants are (because I can never choose) Bussia, an Italian restaurant, De Klepel, a cute wine bar and restaurant, Hotel de Goudfazant in Noord and Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam for a simple but pleasant night. I love hours of conversations with a nice bottle of wine on the table. But with the buzzing programme, I don’t know if you’ll have time for that.
Amsterdam Art Week, 29th May – 2nd June 2024 AmsterdamArt.com
