Stedelijk Museum Annual Report 2012

In a short space of time, 1,371 elementary school pupils participated in four new
programs, the most popular of which was De Stijl–Mijn Stijl (De Stijl–My Style).
During this program, children explored themes such as why the artists of De Stijl so
often used straight lines and the colors red, yellow, and blue, and what they wanted
to change about the world.
Thanks to the Turing Foundation, which funded the Turing Museumplein coach (a
joint project set up by the Stedelijk Museum, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh
Museum), 710 pupils were transported to the Stedelijk free of charge in 2012. For
many children, it was their first visit to the museum. Ninety-two percent of
elementary schools indicated that transportation is one of the biggest obstacles
preventing them from organizing museum visits; the availability of free
transportation prompted 81% of schools to organize an extra school trip to the
museum.
Secondary Schools, Colleges, and Universities
More than 5,600 secondary and college students explored art in depth, dived into
the context of a particular work or movement, and discovered what it’s like to be an
artist or designer. Programs built around the theme “So you think you’re an artist”
explored creativity and were a particular success with many schools. A large
number of students also visited the museum with their teachers, sometimes to
participate in a tailored activity developed in collaboration with the curators or
members of the education team.
Blikopeners
For a number of years, the Blikopeners have proved themselves innovative and
dynamic, providing the Stedelijk with an effective way to reach out to young people
between the ages of 15 and 19. The Blikopeners give guided tours and organize
workshops and events for other young people, sharing their enthusiasm and unique
perspectives on art. During a special preview, all the Blikopeners, past and present,
invited friends and family to be among the first to see their new museum and enjoy
the first presentation held in the new Blikopener Spot. In the grand opening
performance of the work Open by Rory Pilgrim, Blikopeners shared their vision of
the future in brief spoken-word statements. With the acquisition of Pilgrim’s piece,
the voices of the Blikopeners have become an integral part of the Stedelijk
collection.
Working in collaboration with TrouwAmsterdam, IMC Weekendschool, and
international partners such as the Koninklijke Museum voor Schone Kunsten and
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, the Blikopeners organized diverse workshops
and events for the reopening. As part of the educational program Stedelijk in the
Classroom they visited local schools together with museum docents. They also
worked behind the scenes on their own space in the new building, the Blikopener
Spot.
A new group of 15 Blikopeners came on board right after the reopening, and made
the annual Museum Night a great success. With 6,850 visitors, the Stedelijk was
one of the best-visited venues that evening. Five hundred visitors took a Blikopener
Speed Tour during Museum Night.
In 2012, the Blikopeners were: Tim Alpherts, Ivar Breukers, Jelle Broek, Sarah
Haddou, Gena Haensel, Romaine Hodenpijl, Janne Igbuwe, Caro de Jonge, Lou
Mouw, Twan Nooitmeer, Robin Pocornie, Gaia Suyling Smit, Boaz Stroobach, and
Samet Yilmaz.The Blikopener project is supported by the SNS REAAL Fonds.
Guided Tours
Tour guides put the museum’s educational vision into practice. In 2012, they
provided more than 1,100 guided tours for various groups. Demand for the tours
was so great that the team of 10 guides was supported by 35 articulate art
historians, artists, and docents. In anticipation of the reopening, they engaged in an
58