ROTTERDAM.- Art Rotterdam 2007 is the show in the area of topical, contemporary art and is being held for the eighth time in the Cruise Terminal, in the ‘Kop van Zuid’ quarter of Rotterdam, from 8 to 12 February. Some 73 galleries from ten different countries have been chosen for their mental attitude, quality and urge towards renewal. Art Rotterdam has now gained a permanent position among other trendsetting, international art fairs. This year’s theme is “art on the periphery”. The Witte de With Centre for Contemporary Art – under the direction of Nicolaus Schafhausen – is organising a three-day symposium entitled The Periphery Complex. In addition, there is a collaboration with Atelier Rijksbouwmeester. They have invited the American art group Graffiti Research Lab (GRL) for a special art project during Art Rotterdam. GRL is concerned with new forms of expression and comments on and in the urban environment or 'Urban Landscape'. The field of tension between art on the periphery and that in the institutions is spotlighted during the NRC | Art Rotterdam lecture by the author Dirk van Weelden. Following last year’s success, the illy prize will again be awarded to the most promising artistic talent.

Witte de With: The Periphery Complex - Three topical themes in the visual arts will be examined during the Witte de With ‘The Periphery Complex’ symposium: the new public, the new money and the new location. Key figures from the Dutch and international art world will exchange ideas in closed and public sessions, describe their own practice and debate with each other and the public. The symposium will be held during Art Rotterdam, which runs from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 February 2007; daily from 13:30-16:30 hours. www.wdw.nl.

Graffiti Research Lab & Urban Landscape - For the coming 2007 show there is a collaboration for the first time with Atelier Rijksbouwmeester, which has invited the American art group Graffiti Research Lab (GRL) for a special art project during Art Rotterdam. GRL is concerned with new ways of expression and comments on and in the public urban environment – which it also refers to as the ‘Urban Landscape’. It does this in collaboration with Eyebeam Systems, an organisation which strives for a cultural dialogue between art and science. Employing a technical approach, it creates ‘street art’ that goes much farther than the familiar spray-can graffiti. The urban landscape is transformed into something exceptional, which is colourful and stylised; often delivered with humour and/or a specific message. The Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam is an ideal work site for GRL, thanks to the strong urban and industrial character of the environment. The area has a historical character and is, moreover, still in the course of development. GRL is organising specially for the opening a unique ‘one-off’ event which will call attention to Art Rotterdam and its immediate surroundings in a spectacular manner.

illy prize: prize to encourage innovative art - After last year’s success, the illy prize is again being awarded this year to the most promising artistic talent. All the nominees are on view at Art Rotterdam 2007. Last year the Belgian artist Louis de Courdier won this € 10,000 incentive prize.