• program: 24 May – 11 July
• public event: 11 July, 15:00 – 18:00 @ Vin Natuur (Oude Kijk in het Jatstraat 66, Groningen)

Pilot (formerly midseason) has begun!

This year, through our open call, we selected: Pum van de Koppel, Danute Līva, Ilya Lindhout, Baroeg Mulder, Jemin Kim, and Indira de Boer.

 

These six participants will take part in a program focused on strengthening their professional practice. They will be coached by artists and institutions to explore a variety of perspectives and working methods within the field. The program concluded with a site-specific project week, culminating in a public event on July 11.

 

the program

• May 24: kick-off & teambuilding
  w/ Hildur Elísa Jónsdóttir (artist S08E01)
• May 25: field trip to Terug naar het begin

 

Ilya Lindhout: “From ball games to eierballen! We kicked off the pilot program at het resort hq with a good cup of coffee and a slice of buttered knol’s koek. Followed by a uniforming class photo, we were ready to meet each other through a liking/disliking stoelendans, loooong humsss of mmmmmm-s and oooof-s, singing 13 times (f3) “be in confusion”, throwing balls!, silent walks, and teeny tiny bar interventions at De Souffleur – all led by Hildur Elísa Jónsdóttir. The second day we squeezed our bikes into the Arriva train to go back to the beginning. Departing from Appingedam to Oosterwijterweld, we enjoyed some countryside smells and views in between. VELD collectief welcomed us in the Mariakerk with tea, seeds and symbiose. Inspiring us to end our day with a site-specific performance at the graveyard of the small church: remembering the art practices of our current resorted loved ones ;-) (Baroeg → Jemin → Ilya → Danute → Indira → Pum →).”

 

 

• May 30: presenting and reflecting
  w/ Anouk van Klaveren & Dewi Bekker (artists and co-founders of Das Leben am Haverkamp)
• May 31: artist statements
  w/ Artun Alaska Arasli (artist, writer, curator and researcher / S06E01)

 

Jemin Kim: “On a sunny day with summer just around the corner, six artists set off on a journey to The Hague and Amsterdam.. The Friday morning began at Das Leben Am Haverkamp, where artists Dewi and Anouk welcomed the group. Each participant brought along 1–3 objects that could indirectly represent their practice. Taking turns, the artists used these objects to talk about their work, exploring its meaning, methods, and possibilities together.

The next destination was 1646, a gallery in The Hague. In the sun-drenched courtyard, the artists met the gallery’s directors Clara and Johan, who shared valuable insights on applying to residencies and artist programmes. After an energising round of questions and answers, the visit ended with a tour of the current exhibition. The remainder of the day was spent visiting the studios of Pum and Baroeg.

 

On Saturday morning, the group gathered early in Amsterdam. There, they met artist, writer, curator, and researcher Artun, who welcomed them into his studio for a session on writing artist bios and statements. The session — lasting nearly five hours — was shaped around questions from Artun about the person’s artistic identity. Each artist then wrote a short statement for the person in focus, drafting their reflections within ten minutes. One by one, the group read their texts aloud, with the featured artist listening and collecting words and phrases that resonated. This thoughtful exchange became a shared act of reflection and care.

The day concluded with a visit to De Ateliers, where the group enjoyed a huge exhibition together. With that, the second week of the PILOT programme came to a close.”

 

 

• June 12: feedback sessions
  w/ Hilde De Bruijn (artistic leader Into Nature)
  and location visit concluding event @ Vin Natuur
• June 13: personal career development and online presence talks
  w/ Gerdy Geersink (organizational psychologist) and Michiel Teeuw (artist, designer, researcher / participant midseason ‘22)

 

Baroeg Mulder: “This trip to Groningen was a calm one. We began with individual conversations with Hilde De Bruijn at the headquarters of Het Resort. One by one, the participants trickled into Groningen for their meetings. After all the talks were finished, we found a spot in a city park where, over drinks and a bite of octopus, we exchanged our insights. We ended the day with a glass of wine at Vin Natuur, where founder Vincent told us about the history of the building and the origins of his wine shop and bar. I personally climbed down into the cellar via a ladder.

On Friday, some of us started the day with one-on-one conversations with career coach Gerdy Geersink. I haven’t had my session yet, so I can’t say much about that. Before starting the final part of the day’s program, we biked to the Hoornsemeer for a refreshing swim. For the rest of the afternoon, Michiel Teeuw presented a wide range of websites, and through an exercise, we analyzed whether and how our own websites align with the core values we associate with our work. Later, we’re heading to Belgium — someone else will be reporting on that!”

 

 

 

• June 19: fieldtrip to Antwerpen w/ artists Stijn ter Braak and Dirk Hoogeveeen (S08E01)
• June 20: fieldtrip to Brussel w/ artist Yemo Park (S08E01)

 

Indira de Boer: “After arriving in Antwerp we met Dirk Hoogeveen and Stijn ter Braak. We kicked things off by visiting FAAR. We got a tour through the building and met the founders who shared some insights into how they created this space. After a good lunch in the neighborhood, we visited Lichtekooi; a non-profit space for contemporary art. Here we drank liquor in awkward positions, and saw an exhibition about poo in the toilet. We ended the day strong with some minigolf, and eat fries next to the Schelde

 

First day in Brussel. We met Yemo Park and Hildur Elísa Jónsdóttir right in front Espace Aygo. We got a tour through the immense building and even saw some aluminum casting in the attic. It was very enjoyable to see what young designers where doing in Brussels, and how they created such an amazing space for themselves. We then slowly walked to Yemo’s studio and had some lunch. After, Yemo showed us around in the building, whenever there where artist working they briefly told us something about their practice. Last but not least Yemo gave an amazing talk about her own practice, which was truly inspiring and fun. Later we visited Komplot where the artist duo Shift Entity welcomed us and told us about their exhibition. We ended this lovey day with some petanque in the Park and went home more than satisfied.”

 

 

 

• July 3: talks w/ Alina Lupu about sustaining an art practice & solidarity and Arthur Kneepkens about platform BK
• July 4: personal career development talks w/ Gerdy Geersing and Jonathan van Doornum

 

Pum van de Koppel: “Returning to Groningen, happy to see the recently befriended group of not /that/ recently graduated artists at a now familiar patch of pavement. Meeting with icon Alina Lupu. She gives a talk about their art practice and shares how she started their activisms. About how small but involved groups often have a big influence. Then lunch turned into an elaborate tosti testing lab. Meanwhile Arthur from Platform BK joined the table. We conclude that most tosti variants are edible (except banana + cheese + ketchup). Arthur gives a talk about Platform BK and its origin. Starting in 2012 as a reaction to the infamous budget cuts by VVD, the platform advocates for artists and materialises solutions to our struggles. Inspired by this pragmatic attitude we write down on green cards what we have, and on blue cards what we need. We make a start with thinking how we could fulfil these needs within the group. One of the needs read "cheaper clubbing" so afterwards we take off into the streets, crawling and somersaulting. As we travel from one bar to another, the bar of our jokes lowers. We fit in somehow, feel at place, warm. Artistic research.

 

The next day, I wake up, I run, I have a consult with a consultant. She asks if I am comfortable with the placement of my chair. The conversation falls into place in an hour and a bit. I don't have 20/20 vision but now, a long term one. Over at het resort hq, Jonathan of the Mondriaan Fonds shares with us so much (tips and info) that I postpone my toilet visit. End.”

 

 

• July 7-11: project week with a concluding event @ Vin Natuur

 

Danute Līval: “What is the yummiest wine-tasting to experience? The cheap wine from first year in art studies, natural wine from Brabant or sweet muscat wine? The project week started by two wine-tastings, one executed by pilot participants themselves and the other by Vinnatuur owner Vincent, that ended by camera filming from inside of the wine and Baroeg offering wine to Groningers.

 

Later, full of wine and inspiration, piloters together with Dewi, started to execute ideas for the upcoming intervention, from flying confetti, rituals around wine and their potential sediment meanings to the agency of wine. Parallel to preparing for the opening, piloters showed each other their portfolios and heard fruitful feedbacks from Dewi and Ellen, and cooked meals together, where the highlight was Jemin's korean pancake. The week culminated at opening in Vinnatuur, full of fun and wine'o clock!”