stedelijk @

Since August 2010, when the Stedelijk Museum seized the unique opportunity to open the renovated yet unfinished historic building to the public during the ongoing improvement and expansion of its facilities, the Temporary Stedelijk at the Stedelijk Museum has welcomed over 200,000 visitors with a full program of exhibitions, collection displays, public programs and educational initiatives. The Stedelijk Museum will close after October 9 for the final phase of construction and completion of the building renovation and expansion project.

Temporary Stedelijk 3: Stedelijk @ will feature performances, film screenings, lectures, discussions, public interviews, music performances, book presentations, interactive happenings and other events throughout the city. Developed in close collaboration with a number of organizations in Amsterdam, including the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, the University of Amsterdam, If I Can’t Dance I Don’t Want To Be Part of Your Revolution, SMBA, de Appel arts centre, the Rijksakademie, De Ateliers, W139, and SKOR | Foundation for Art and Public Domain, these programs will be situated in many of these other venues.

The Stedelijk Museum is also pleased to announce the launch of the special programStedelijk @ School, which brings the Stedelijk Museum into the classrooms of schools throughout Amsterdam. Central to the program are the new group of Blikopeners (the Stedelijk’s peer educators) and the museum docents. They will visit schools to give an interactive introduction to modern and contemporary art. Using a range of specially developed teaching materials, they will address questions such as How do you look at modern art?, What kind of questions do artists pose? and What can you expect in a museum?. Stedelijk @ School will offer a great service to teachers who want to teach their pupils about modern art.

Stedelijk Director Ann Goldstein summed up this important transitional moment: “As we greatly look forward to reopening our spectacular expanded facilities in 2012, the Stedelijk Museum is steadfast in its commitment to remain dynamic and engaged and to actively serve Amsterdam, the Netherlands and the international arts community continuously during the coming months. We are privileged to partner with numerous organizations throughout Amsterdam in our efforts to maintain a strong public face within our community. And at this critical moment, when many of these same cultural institutions are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of severe budgetary cuts, we also embrace the opportunity to highlight the extraordinary and unique resources that distinguish and enrich Amsterdam as a vital international arts community.”

Further details about Temporary Stedelijk 3: Stedelijk @ will follow soon.