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- Nine Artists in Search of the ‘Soul of Southwest Fryslân’
The nine collaborating museums of Southwest Fryslân have made their selection. The artists who will spend the coming months searching for the Soul of Southwest Fryslân have been chosen. The diverse results of their explorations will be presented at the respective locations during Arcadia (May 17 – August 24, 2025).
Does something like the Soul of Southwest Fryslân even exist? Who or what is it, and where can it be found? Nine museums in Southwest Fryslân have joined forces to unravel this mystery. Nine artists will immerse themselves in the essence of the region and interpret it in their own unique way. Each will spend two weeks near one of the museums, drawing inspiration from their surroundings. Their explorations will result in artworks across various disciplines—from textile and video art to photography and installations. These works will be exhibited in or near the museums from May 17 to August 24, 2025.
At the end of December, the Samenwerking Musea Zuidwest Friesland foundation issued an Open Call. Each museum had its own preferences and requirements, depending on its collection, available space, and specific conditions. Applications poured in from both the Netherlands and abroad. Particularly during the final weekend before the deadline on January 19, a large number of artists applied, bringing the total to 120!
Most applicants expressed a preference for one or more specific locations. The interest was highly diverse, allowing artistic director Gitte Brugman to present each museum with a carefully curated top three. The museum representatives then selected the following artists:
Museum De Tiid: Heleen Langkamp (multimedia installation with video)
Kazemattenmuseum: Julia Eichler (sculptures)
Modelspoormuseum: Caroline Penris (photography and film)
Warkums Erfskip & Jopie Huisman Museum:
Cora Jongsma (Feltscapes)
Ernest Bessems (installation, ceramics, and performance)
’t Tsiispakhûs: Thea Zweerink (textile, multimedia)
Museum Houtstad IJlst: Sibe Jan Kramer (wood, installation)
Museum Hindeloopen: Madelief van de Beek (video, scenography)
Fries Scheepvaartmuseum: Gitte Brugman (photography, audio)
On February 13, the selected artists gathered for the Soul of Southwest Fryslân kick-off event to meet each other and the museum representatives. Together with the organizers, they will determine when and how to carry out their two-week residencies. During their stay, they will collaborate with ‘their’ museum, local residents, and possibly other local artists to create a piece that reflects the spirit of the place they are hosted by. They have until May 1 to complete their works. Their progress can be followed via the social media channels and websites of the participating museums (www.museumzuidwestfriesland.nl).
A dedicated art route will connect the nine museums, allowing visitors to experience all the artworks. More details will be available in due course on the museums’ websites and at www.waterlandvanfriesland.nl.
The Soul of Southwest Fryslân is part of Arcadia, the triennial cultural event that continues the legacy of Leeuwarden European Capital of Culture 2018 (LF2018). Through art and culture, Arcadia raises profound questions about the future: What kind of world do you want to live in? What do you wish to leave behind for future generations? The Soul of Southwest Fryslân aligns with Arcadia’s key themes: Grûn (land) and Mienskip (community).
The Soul of Southwest Fryslân is made possible by the Municipality of Southwest Fryslân, the Mondriaan Fund, the Entrepreneurs Fund Southwest Fryslân, the Iepen Mienskipsfûns, Arcadia, Merk Fryslân, and Het Fonds Bolsward-Dronrijp 1993.
Even before the project officially began, the Fries Scheepvaartmuseum had asked Gitte Brugman to search for the Soul of Southwest Fryslân. Later, she was also appointed as the artistic director of the project. Her work will serve as a connecting thread between all participating locations.