AMSTERDAM.- In 2016, the Stedelijk Museum and Ammodo will begin searching for a new contemporary art venue in Amsterdam. The institute will be a repositioning of Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (SMBA). Launched 23 years ago, SMBA was founded to offer young artists and curators a platform in Amsterdam. For the new institution, an approach and format will be sought that can provide what is currently lacking, and needed, in the city.

International curators Sophie Goltz, Eungie Joo, and Emily Pethick have been appointed to conduct the survey. The process will draw on the expertise of art professionals from Amsterdam, as well as others from the Netherlands and the international art world, and take the form of public and closed debates. The kickoff of the survey period takes place the weekend of 17–19 June at the Stedelijk. During this gathering, topical themes in Amsterdam’s contemporary art world will be explored. The weekend’s participants include Barbara Visser (artist, chair Akademie van Kunsten, KNAW), Annet Zondervan (director CBK Zuidoost), Sander Breure and Witte van Hulzen (artists), and Vincent van Velsen (writer, researcher, and curator).

By the end of 2016, the survey aims to determine recommendations for a new art institute that complements the current artistic developments and needs of the city, the nation, and the rest of the world.

As previously announced, on 1 July the Rozenstraat premises that SMBA has occupied since 1996 will close its doors. The search for a new location is currently underway, pending the results of the search.

Beatrix Ruf, director of Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: “We feel it is vital to have a location in Amsterdam that augments our own program and acts as a bridge between major institutions like the Stedelijk and the contemporary field of art. It must also enhance the city’s current program. The venue needs to reflect the city’s culturally diverse and international context, and connect with global art movements. Together with Ammodo, we look forward to investigating ways of creating an inspiring place that offers compelling artistic encounters in Amsterdam and contributes to city’s thriving artistic climate.”

Juliette de Wijkerslooth, director of Ammodo: “Ammodo works closely with art institutions to identify how best to stimulate the development of art and artists. Important trends that we identify are the globalization of the art field, the blurring of disciplines, and the increasing influence of digitization. In the context of these developments, we encourage taking a fresh look at existing approaches to presenting contemporary art, to ensure they tie in with the needs of today’s artists and audiences. We are looking forward to working with the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in exploring these approaches in greater depth and discovering what the field of art, both in Amsterdam and internationally, needs right now.”

Among other topics, Goltz, Joo, and Pethick will consider the legitimacy of a new institution, how to integrate local and international art production, how art can reflect sociopolitical developments, and how an institution in Amsterdam can contribute to the global debate on art. The Stedelijk and Ammodo have selected an international investigative team in collaboration with other (local) art professionals and experts.