How to activate or reactivate street artists?

What began at the end of the eighties as drawing on Perron 0 (Platform 0) has grown into Via Kunst: a gallery and studio for street artists in Rotterdam. This institute of contemporary street art is also part of the Pauluskerk, a former church now used as a half-way house for the homeless.
How to activate or reactivate street artists?
Between five and fifteen street artists work in the studio every day: homeless, addicts or former addicts, squatters and refugees. Their shared interest: creative and artistic development. For those who do not share this interest there is no admission to Via Kunst.

• The works produced are framed by Via Kunst and offered for sale. When a work is sold, after deduction of the cost of the frame a third of the remainder is used to purchase new materials while two-thirds goes to the artist.
• Via Kunst holds a permanent internal exhibition which changes every eight weeks.
• In addition to the internal exhibitions Via Kunst seeks ways of presenting its work in public buildings in Rotterdam.
• The studio has room for about fifteen artists at any one time.
• Rotterdam's social services department has awarded a subsidy for making the workshops (see below) available and a budget to pay for the materials needed.
• All activities offered must fall within the framework of the social activation or reactivation of the artists.

• As part of an exchange between the Cultural Capitals of 2001 a delegation of Rotterdam street artists travelled to Oporto, Portugal.
• In 2002 workshops were offered by hired artists roughly twice a month for interested street artists.

Via Kunst
Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: + 31 10 4780198
info@viakunst.nl
http://www.viakunst.nl/

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Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration

Integration of social groups