smARTdates

SmARTdates is a concept meant for young, talented artists and art professionals to support them in their artistic and professional development by facilitating meaningful connections. We organized as part of our partnership with the Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs. The first edition was hosted by Stedelijk Museum Schiedam.

What is smARTdates?

During the smARTdates we create a network arena, where artists will get the chance to speed date with a selection of (private and corporate) collectors, curators and professionals from art institutions. The group is compiled with private collectors, independent curators and representatives from TENT Rotterdam, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Showroom MAMA, 1646, Museum LAM Lisse, V2_, Stichting SIGN Groningen. This resulted in a group that has the following reach:
– 10 curating an exhibition
– 8 hosting an exhibition
– 5 building a collection
– 7 offering programs/ events

Through the arranged smARTdates, we stimulate learning and create an active, collaborative and engaging relationship between artists and the counterparts. Additionally, the full-day program is enriched with masterclasses on career development, conversation skills and coaching sessions, to prepare participating artists for their smARTdates.

In rounds of 10 minutes, participating artists and their collector/curator counterparts are able to start a conversation that guides curiosity and triggers interest in further collaboration. Employing a speed dating model will give the artists the possibility to practice with a variety of perspectives in a short amount of time.

Upfront, participating collectors and curators showed their preferences and where matched accordingly. This way we encourage meetings that go beyond the educational experience and create possibilities of actual connections, that result in new collaborations.

Several smARTdates have led to follow ups, of which we will see the results in fall 2018, early 2019.