Introducing the Nelly & theo van doesburg platform

The Nelly & Theo van Doesburg Platform develops collaborations between emerging artists, local inhabitants, architects, and developers in Amsterdam and beyond.

Building on the legacy of the Theo van Doesburg Foundation (1987–2025), the platform is dedicated to realizing visual art projects and initiating formats that create positions and commissions for emerging and early-career artists.

Led by artistic director Jules van den Langenberg, the platform operates in close collaboration with a carefully cultivated and expanding fellowship of artists, curators, landscape architects, politicians, and property developers. Together, they pursue site-specific projects and forms of relational public art.

Focusing on both solicited and unsolicited proposals for public artworks, alongside an ongoing program of public events, the platform’s activities are structured around two core initiatives: News from Nowhere, an exhibition series hosted in private homes of art collectors, and Construction Site Conversations, a series of gatherings organized on building sites and within urban areas under development.

Donations and sponsoring

Through an open-minded approach, the platform welcomes donations and collaboration requests or commissions that are keen to invest in longevity, talent development and progressive art practices.

We are open to receiving symbolic and monetary donations and sponsoring from visitors of our public gatherings, group shows and other projects of the Nelly & Theo van doesburg platform. Feel free to transfer to account number ‘NL73 RABO 0168882434’ under mention ‘donation’.

The Nelly & Theo van does burg platform thanks its former collaborators, artists, donors and sponsors such as Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst, BPD Cultuurfonds, Casper van der Kruk, Gemeente Amsterdam, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Goethe Instituut, G-Star, Sandberg Instituut and others who wish to remain anonymous.

History

Founded in 1987 by former Gerrit Rietveld Academie and Sandberg Instituut directors and leading figures from the Dutch art education community, the (Nelly&)Theo van Doesburg Foundation developed formats and positions for upcoming artists in the city of Amsterdam and society at large. This led amongst others to the notorious exhibition series Kunstvlaai (1997-2014), the platform for video art The One Minutes (1998-2017), various temporary and permanent public art works and programs at art collectors’ homes and construction sites (2018-2025).

The foundation included board members such as Chequita Nahar, Femke Dekker, Floor van Spaendonck, Hester Alberdingk Thijm, Jos Houweling, Jules van den Langenberg, Leon theunissen, Liesbeth in ‘t Hout, marjo van baar, nadine van den bosch.

The Nelly & Theo van Doesburg Platform continues to build upon the legacy of the foundation and thanks all previous boardmembers, citizens, collaborators and benefactors involved. Special thanks are in place to the Stadscuratorium of Amsterdam, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsdeel Zuid en Zuidas, the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, De Groene Amsterdammer, the Jan Hanlo Foundation, the Buning Brongers Prize, AkzoNobel Art Foundation, BPD, The Collectors Circle and finally the chair of the board at Gerrit Rietveld Academie and Sandberg Instituut, Maaike Lauwaert, and educational directors, Miriam Bestebreurtje and Ruby Hoette, for their unbridled support.

Colophon

Website and typeface: OPSXD
Copywriting: Marjo van Baar, Nadine den Bosch, Jules van den Langenberg
Photography: Sander van Wettum, unless stated otherwise

Nothing from this site may be made public or reproduced in any manner whatsoever except as is permitted by law without the express, written permission of the Foundation. The information may be downloaded for personal use or educational and non-commercial purposes.

The information on the website of the Nelly & Theo van does burg platform has been uploaded carefully. We accept no liability for any possible inaccuracies in the data. In case you find yourself mentioned incorrectly or who like to update your information send an email to info@theovandoesburgstichting.nl.

Diversity and inclusion

The Nelly & Theo van doesburg platform welcomes collaboration requests, art collectors, sponsors and property developers from or making an effort for Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, and those physically challenged, as these groups are under-represented in the cultural field.

We take into account in our programming, collaborations and would like to hear from individuals whose situation, background and/or identity is currently under-supported across the arts and cultural sector. Including but not limited to people who are culturally and ethnically diverse and experience racism in our society, those with LGBTQ+ identities, neurodivergent and/or physically challenged, and those with caring responsibilities and those who have experienced socio and economic barriers.