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The Collection: 25 years of art projects in care institutions


The end of an era and the start of a new beginning


Auteurs: M. Brouwer, B. Kempers, C. Wagenaar e.a.
Editing: L. Melis en T. van Gestel
 Publication: 15-12-2009
 isbn: 978-90-806408-4-9
Number of pages: 512
Price: € 34,50

Many of the moments of sorrow and joy that can mark a human life take place within the walls of care institutions. Here, patients, doctors, nurses, family members and friends are often confronted with the most fundamental human questions about sickness and health, life and death. Since time immemorial, these themes have been a source of inspiration for artists like Rembrandt and Géricault. Through their art, they offer consolation, hope or new perspectives on reality. For 25 years, SKOR and its predecessor, the Praktijkbureau Beeldende Kunstopdrachten (Bureau for Visual Art Assignments) has been developing art projects that express this delicate relationship between art and healthcare, while at the same time contributing to this specific Dutch tradition. Alongside young and promising new artists, celebrated artists with an international reputation have created almost 350 works of art for hospitals, psychiatric institutions, nursing homes and rehabilitation clinics throughout the country.


The introduction of the new Public Healthcare Act on 1 January 2006 brought to an end the specific arrangement on the basis of which it had been possible to create works of art for newly-built healthcare institutions, since 1984. However, the abolishment of the arrangement by no means signified an end to this particular tradition. SKOR launched the idea of The Collection, to make it possible to continue producing art projects aimed at eliciting a contemporary response, with a view to activating and updating this tradition.


Simultaneously with the launch of The Collection, SKOR aims to mark the conclusion of an important period in its history, with the publication of the book The Collection. 25 Years of Art Projects in Care Institutions. This publication contains almost 350 works of art created by SKOR and its predecessor, the Praktijkbureau Beeldende Kunstopdrachten (Bureau for Visual Art Assignments) over the past 25 years, with the support of a government programme. With this publication, SKOR is not only marking the end of one period, but is also launching the start of a new policy in respect of art in care institutions, including nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric institutions and institutions for the mentally disabled. In addition to being a catalogue raisonné, this book contains numerous essays elaborating on the context in which the works were created.