Here we are - there we go Intro

8, 9 and 10 May 2009 - 30th Anniversary open house weekend

The Netherlands Media Art Institute celebrated its 30th anniversary! We did this with an open house on 8, 9 and 10 May, a long weekend full of discussions, visual art and technology. We lifted a glass to the future, and invite everyone to think along with us about the art of today and tomorrow, about media art and digital culture in all its colors and keys. What fundamental changes in our lives will accompany technological innovation? What influence is tomorrow's digital environment having on artists today? And what will this mean for an institution like the NIMK? This moment is an ideal opportunity to determine where we stand, and to look ahead to the future.

The Netherlands Media Art Institute's mission is to support and encourage the free development of media art. Over the past thirty years this art form, which is defined by its connection with technology, has experienced an enormously diverse development: from video art, performance and work on Super8, via internet and Second Life to wearable technology and blogs. What has continued to fascinate us through all these years is precisely this growth and development, the flexible use of one new technology after another, and the creativity shown by artists in doing so.

René Coelho, the founder of Montevideo, always had a short and simple answer when asked for a definition of media art: "It is art with a plug." The manifestations of media art have changed immensely since that time, but in essence he is still right. Media art has taken on many shapes which are not always easy to fit – or even to twist – into the definition of 'Art'. Media art now includes works made with ever more advanced new technologies: digital art, computer graphics, virtual art, computer animation, robotics, internet art, interactive technologies and biotechnology.

Their diversity will not only define our future, but also challenges us to continually come up with innovative solutions in the different activities which connect the Institute with media art : exhibitions, collection, distribution and promotion, preservation, production, research, reflection and education. We want our activities to be trend-setting and produce food for thought, and work together with many individuals and institutions, here in The Netherlands and internationally, to that end. We therefore dedicate the open house weekend in honor of our 30th anniversary to all those who have supported us over the course of the years, and we hope for many productive years of collaboration with them ahead.
 

With thanks to:

Mondriaan Foundation
Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst
Powered by BeamSystems
City of Amsterdam
CCCS, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
The General Delegation of Quebec at Brussels
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
SKOR
STRP, Eindhoven
Cut-n-Paste
Cassandra Bron
Joppe Claassen
Kim Knoppers (Urban Aesthetics)
Gerard de Lange
Pim Peterse
Dierck Roosen
Light Design Institute: Isabelle Nielen and Yvon Muller (light installation, ground floor)
The viewing set was designed by Richard van Os (Üppig) in collaboration with Annekatrien van Meegen.

All the staff, volunteers and Board of Directors, for their efforts over these 30 years
And of course, most of all: our visitors and the artists!

Translation: Word & Pictures, Rotterdam