Kunstverein

Kunstverein is a women-led not-for-profit membership organisation, a publishing house, a curatorial office based in Amsterdam and a domestic franchise with sisters in Aughrim, Toronto, Milan and (soon to be rebooted) New York. Since its founding in 2009 Kunstverein aims to fill a gap in the cultural field. It shows art that falls just outside the canon, the periphery of art history. You will find undervalued artistic practices there, by makers (artists, designers, writers, craftsmen, choreographers) who do not (yet) get a platform at large, established institutions. Kunstverein has aimed to celebrate practices—their attempts and failures—of avant-garde artists and designers of all ages who have been undersung in contemporary art history or who work at the fringes of divergent disciplines. Where programming in museums usually has a long lead time, Kunstverein acts as a small and agile institute, operating at the cutting edge. Averse to temporary trends or the art market. After fifteen years, this small-scale presentation space has grown into a nationally and internationally acclaimed ‘fitness studio’ for art, with carefully composed and varied ‘training programs’. A place to train the eye and further develop thinking about art.

Explain in one sentence why you think the project you nominate is outstanding and could serve as an example for the entire community of modern and contemporary art museums.

Kunstverein is known for the successful way in which it breathes new life into the repertoire of socially relevant, often historical, artistic practices. It does this carefully, profoundly and playfully and is an inspiration for larger institutional structures.

Explain why this practice or program is relevant and sustainable in creating meaningful and lasting connections with people, communities, and the museum context with a medium to long-term vision.

At Kunstverein you can find special, custom-made mise-en-scènes, always surprising and innovative. By working against the drive to produce calendar-based programming and in refuting the exhibition as the format that sits at the top of the food chain, Kunstverein offers an alternative that reflect upon the manner in which cultural practices are traditionally administered.

www.kunstverein.nl