MADRID.- From 15 to 19 February, the Netherlands is the guest country for the international contemporary art fair ARCOmadrid 2012. During FOCUS The Netherlands, ARCOmadrid presents the diversity of modern art in the Netherlands. This is the biggest presentation in Spain of modern art from the Netherlands. In collaboration with the Mondriaan Fund and the Dutch embassy in Madrid, an extensive programme has been compiled consisting of gallery presentations, exhibitions, debates and other activities featuring art from the Netherlands.

As part of the general programme, curator Xander Karskens from De Hallen Haarlem presents 14 Dutch galleries: Annet Gelink Gallery, Galerie Diana Stigter, Ellen de Bruijne Projects, Galerie Fons Welters, Grimm Gallery, Galerie Juliètte Jongma, Galerie Martin van Zomeren, Motive Gallery, ZINGERpresents, Galerie West, Jeanine Hofland Contemporary Art, tegenboschvanvreden, Galerie Paul Andriesse en Wilfried Lentz. There will also be a project stand dedicated to the history of one of the most legendary Dutch galleries, Art & Project (1968–2001).

Under the title The Dutch Assembly, curators Max Andrews and Mariana Cánepa Luna (Latitudes) are organising a continuous programme of debates, performances and presentations by Dutch museums and institutions in a Dutch Pavilion specially designed by artist Jasper Niens.

Alongside these programmes, the main museums and institutes of modern art in Madrid will be hosting exhibitions and presentations by Dutch artists, such as Aernout Mik in Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Navid Nuur in Matadero, René Daniels in Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and a group exhibition featuring two generations of Dutch conceptual art in La Casa Encendida. There will also be one-off activities based on the work of Dutch artists, such as a new performance lecture by Falke Pisano at the Reina Sofia and a screening of Gabriel Lester and Nathaniel Mellors at Cineteca/Matadero. During the evening programme, afterARCO, Dutch acts like Knalpot and Machinefabriek will perform live. At Plaza de Callao, there will also be screenings of the artists Jan Dibbets, Guido van der Werve, Yael Bartana, Jeroen Kooijmans and Lernert and Sander. Viral Radio will be focusing on music and art in its broadcasts from the radio studio of La Casa Encendida.

Finally, to mark this edition of ARCOmadrid, the art magazine Kunstbeeld will be publishing a special themed publication dedicated to FOCUS The Netherlands, while Metropolis M will create a live wall newspaper (with web edition) which can be viewed in the Dutch Pavilion.

FOCUS The Netherlands is a collaborative venture involving IFEMA-ARCOmadrid, the Dutch Embassy in Madrid and the Mondriaan Fund. For programme details, please visit the website www.mondriaanfonds.nl.