Netherlands Media Art Institute (NIMk), SMART Project Space (SPS) and VH MV (former Montevideo, working title) in the future

In cooperation with NIMk, SPS has applied at the city of Amsterdam and the Ministry of Culture for support in 2013-2016. Knowledge and experience of NIMk and SPS will be absorbed in the new organisation New Art Space Amsterdam (NASA).

NASA is the Amsterdam space for art and culture of the 21st century. Expertise in the area of especially presentation, production of new work and residencies there will be appropriated by NASA as of 2013.
NIMk and SPS strive to both work from the SPS building from autumn 2012; on 1 January 2013 the new organisation NASA will formally start its activities.

Alongside that, VH MV is being founded: a new foundation that will offer collection and distribution activities in the area of media art; including a 'Sustainability lab', storage and Shared Services Structure for the preservation of art and technology. This means that expertise can be preserved, and that the important collection of NIMk will remain visible in the Netherlands and accessible for the audience. VH MV derives from NIMk's knowledge and expertise, and will also be housed at NASA.

The Dutch Council for Culture as well as the Amsterdam Arts Council think highly of the NASA applications and have worded this in positive recommendations. On 15 June the Amsterdam Arts Council's advice was presented:
“ … SMART and NIMk have in fact reinvented themselves in a dynamic initiative to merge the two institutions. The Arts Council sees ….a stronger institute materialise, which is more than the sum of its parts. Together they will have more strength than separately, especially considering history and background of both institutions.
...NASA has the potential to become the kunsthalle or museum for contemporary arts which Amsterdam now lacks.
SMART as well as NIMk have proven in the past to be able to present a high-quality progamme and reach audiences. ...NASA has the potential of becoming an important cultural institute; a valuable asset for the range on offer in Amsterdam, as a platform for contemporary and committed arts in all its facets...”

Before that, on 21 May, the Council for Culture presented its advice regarding the NASA application, and concludes in his recommendations to the State Secretary: “The Council greatly appreciates ...which means that the extensive NIMk expertise in the field of new media can be preserved. The plans of the new NASA institute look promising, but are still in the exploratory stage. NASA has the possibility to develop into a distinctive gallery and production house for new media.”

Alas, the way things look now, only one so-called presentation institute in Amsterdam will be supported by the Ministry of Culture from 2013, meaning that NASA cannot be supported.

As a legal body NIMk will formally cease to exist. This is the result of the decision of NIMk to liquidate the institute, following the stop of structural support from the Ministry of Culture after 2012. The activities will end as of 31 December 2012.

Links:

http://www.cultuur.nl/44/0/council-for-culture.aspx

http://www.cultuur.nl/70/117/adviezen/slagen-in-cultuur-culturele-basisinfrastructuur-2013-2016.aspx

http://www.kunstraad.nl/2012/06/nasa/