News — Aug 31, 2004

Gijs van Tuyl (b. 1941) has been named as the new director of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Van Tuyl will assume final responsibility for both the managerial and artistic affairs at the Museum. His appointment will be for a period of five years. 

Van Tuyl was chosen by a selection committee which was comprised of staff from the Stedelijk and members of the Museum’s Board of Trustees in formation. The latter recommended Van Tuyl to the Mayor and Aldermen of Amsterdam, who approved his appointment today.

Alderwoman Hannah Belliot, whose portfolio includes cultural affairs, calls Van Tuyl ‘a solid director’ and ‘someone who can build on the successes of the past’. ‘The Commission has chosen for continuity and stability. In view of his enormous experience, Van Tuyl can guarantee this.’

Van Tuyl is not unfamiliar with the Stedelijk Museum. From 1969 to 1976 he worked there as a curator. Since 1992 he has guided the affairs of the Kunstmuseum in Wolfsburg (Germany), which under his leadership grew into an internationally renowned institution. He organised impressive exhibitions in the visual arts, design and photography there, including both modern classics (Fernand Léger, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol) and contemporaries (Bruce Nauman, Luc Tuymans, Olafur Eliasson). In an book reviewing a decade at the Wolfsburg Kunstmuseum, Van Tuyl praises the Stedelijk’s former director Willem Sandberg for the manner in which this museum was ‘thrown open’ for experimentation and activity.

In addition, he has a clear vision on how a museum can and must operate professionally today.

Van Tuyl will assume his responsibilities no later than January 1, 2005. Interim director Hans van Beers says of Van Tuyl’s appointment, ‘It is a clear choice for a strong builder at the right moment; under his leadership the Museum will pick up speed as it continues in its rising line. We can be very satisfied.’ The Employee Council at the Stedelijk has also endorsed Van Tuyl’s appointment.

Rijkman Groenink, chairman of the Board of Trustees, adds, ‘With Van Tuyl we are obtaining the experienced museum manager who we urgently need at this moment. With his background, combined with his expertise in the Museum, we are confident of an exhibition policy that will be as thorough as it will be daring.’

Interim director Van Beers will in any case remain until the Museum becomes independent of municipal control.

For all further information on the appointment of Gijs van Tuyl you can contact the press relations department at the Stedelijk Museum, +31 (0)20 573 2656 or pressoffice@stedelijk.nl

City of Amsterdam Information: Fouad Sidali, +31 (0)20 552 2056