Petition: Reopen museums and art spaces in The Netherlands

Dutch museums and art spaces have been predominantly closed since March 2020. The Dutch government has no intention of opening them soon.

We, art professionals, artists and initiators of this petition, fear that an even longer closure of museums and art institutions, will damage the sector irreparably. The closure of exhibition spaces means destruction of resources, both in a material and immaterial sense. Artists are losing grip of their professional practices; places for artistic exposure and debate disappear; the art market evaporates; professionals are losing their jobs; art lovers (young and old) are no longer able to partake in artistic discourses.

Artist Anne Wenzel & art critic Lucette ter Borg are initiators of the nationwide, Dutch petition ”Reopen Museums and Art Spaces.“ This petition is already supported by 40 museums, art spaces, art magazines and platforms as well as numerous artists all over the country and abroad. We are convinced that museums and art spaces can open safely according to the rules of the National Institute for Health and Environment through time slots, regulating visitor flows and ventilating rooms.

We therefore request the Dutch government to reopen the doors of museums and exhibitions spaces as soon as possible.

You can support us right now by signing this petition.
You will help the by now shattered Dutch art scene to revive again.
You will give artists and art professionals back their living.
And last but not least, you will give art the essential place back that it deserves in society.

The petition “Reopen Museums and Art Spaces” is supported by Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven, Kunsthal Kade Amersfoort, Groninger Museum, Fundatie Zwolle, Museum Arnhem, Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht, De Lakenhal Leiden, Hermitage Amsterdam, Oude Kerk Amsterdam, Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Breda, Museum Belvédère Oranjewoud, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Rijksmuseum Twenthe Enschede, Bijbels Museum Amsterdam, Frans Halsmuseum Haarlem, Dutch Museums Association, Platform BK, Nest Den Haag, Stroom Den Haag, De Appel Amsterdam, STUK Leuven, Ketelfactory Schiedam, Club Solo Breda, Stichting KOP Breda, Framer Framed Amsterdam, My villages Rotterdam, Sea Foundation Tilburg, Zone2Source Amsterdam, Art Amsterdam, CBK Rotterdam, Jan van Eyck Maastricht, Maastricht Institute of Arts Maastricht, Metropolis M, Tubelight, Jegens & Tevens, Trendbeheer, Museumtijdschrift, many artists and more.

Schuilen in het Rijks is a Dutch internet-based activist group. It was founded in 2011 when artists squatted the Rijksmuseum to protest against the cut in budget for visual arts.