Motivated by a desire to come together and respond as a collective to the pandemic and its challenging impact on the artistic ecosystem, the young patrons clubs of three leading European contemporary art institutions have decided to form a partnership and organise a series of exciting multiple day events in their cities. Open to members of all three institutions, the partnership is formed between Young Stedelijk by Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, WE Club WIELS in Brussels and Les Amis du Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
Young private donors play an integral role in shaping the future of museums and patrons clubs offer fantastic opportunities for art enthusiasts to meet and network with like-minded individuals, exploring the diversity of creativity in the city and beyond, while directly supporting artists. Museums are increasingly reliant on private funding from donors.
Each patrons club hosts all international young patrons in their respective cities. Kick-off was during Brussels Gallery weekend from 9-11 September 2021. WE Club WIELS hosted the international group of young patrons for three days of cultural discoveries within Brussels.
“As Young Stedelijk, we believe that it is important to be in motion by providing an enticing program that responds to continuous changes in society as well. By doing so, we aim to inspire our young patrons. This is not only in line with the Stedelijk Museum as an institute but also with the Stedelijk’s vision, in which experimentation and looking beyond the surface are of great importance. With our partnership with WIELS and Palais the Tokyo, we do not only broaden Young Stedelijk in terms of art but also on a social level, as this paves the way for all our members to inspire and learn from each other.”
After Brussels, Les Amis du Palais de Tokyo created a program during FIAC weekend in October 2021, curated around the solo exhibition of celebrated German artist Anne Imhof, laureate of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2015.
In May 2022, Young Stedelijk hosted a three day art weekend for this international group in Amsterdam. This partnership and execution of all weekends was created by Diane van Impe, Olivia Anani, Marjolein van Zanten and Pien Bergshoeff.