Artist-run residencies in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands the majority of international artist in residence programs are organized by artists themselves through artist-run-spaces and -initiatives. They host Dutch artists as well as foreign artists. The amount of guests is generally limited: from one up to five. In recent years even more new studios have been set up. The initiators go about it with a lot of enthusiasm and with clear ideas about the role they want to play in the art world. These guest studios increasingly play an important role in the Netherlands, like artist-in-residence programs fulfill elsewhere in the world.
Residential art centers in the Netherlands
The three main Dutch residential centers didn't start as such. De Ateliers in Amsterdam was originally set up by artists to create independent self-education in 1963 and it still functions as an independent art institute run by visual artists themselves. The Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam functioned as governmental institutes for higher art education before they both gradually evolved into international residential art and research centers. New residential art centers have been set up recently, amongst others: DasArts (performing arts), Montevideo (new media), EKWC (ceramics).
Guest Studio NL/ BE research
In 2004 Trans Artists has organized four meetings about international guest studios in the Netherlands and Belgium. Even to Trans Artists the enthusiasm was a bit of a surprise: 104 representatives of guest studios, museums, art institutes, art academies and governments attended these meetings. In 2005 Trans Artists continues with its research. The majority of guest studios has been visited, talks were held, questions asked, plans made for the future.
Working visits
What are currently the challenges for international guest studios and residency programs in the Netherlands and Flanders? This question was central to the project A new look at guest studios, which Trans Artists and Flemish Cultural Centre De Brakke Grond organized in collaboration with Dutch and Flemish guest studios in November and December 2007.
