COOPERATIVE CULTURE
Rabobank's internationally renowned art collection reflects
its cooperative values. 'Supporting people's visions and
building deep relationships by focusing on both the short and
long term is the quintessential Rabobank approach in all it
does, including collecting art,' says Marieke van Schijndel,
Rabobank Nederland's Art Affairs Director. 'The bank not
only purchases individual art works front contemporary Dutch
artists, it also commits to supporting them during their creative
lifetime. This gives artists a level of security which facilitates
inspiration and creativity. It also gives Rabobank a fabulous
and valuable collection of art works by increasingly interna
tionally recognized artists.
For the artists, Rabobank is a highly desirable patron. 'The
fact we commit to our artists throughout their career is a
unique aspect of our collection policy,' Van Schijndel explains.
'This means we buy key pieces throughout the artists' life span,
commissioning new work from them, visiting their studios and
exhibitions, both in the Netherlands and abroad. It also means
evolving our collection policy over time in response to the
artists' development and exploration of new media. By facili-
tating an exchange of ideas on issues such as emerging tech-
niques and new movements, you spotlight the need for collec
tors, including Rabobank, to adjust their policies. For instance,
there has been an upsurge in art photography and video
production. We recently worked with Sotheby's, the leading
auction house, on a symposium to discuss collectors' guidelines
to these comparatively new media.'
The result of such proactivity is that the Rabobank collection
is growing in international stature. Many of the artists are
becoming more international as they successfully undertake
commissions and exhibit outside the Netherlands. For exam-
ple, Inez van Lamsweerde's photographs regularly appear in
Vogue magazine, and Joep van Lieshout has received wide
international acclaim at the prestigious Venice Biennale, one of
the art world's biggest events. Obviously, the growing value of
the collection is an added advantage. However, the collection is
more than a financial investment. 'If we'd wanted to simply
make an investment in art it would be better to collect 17th
Century Masters or the Impressionists, rather than contempo
rary Dutch artists,' concludes Van Schijndel. 'The purpose of
our collection is to encourage people to be more conscious of
the world around them and, through art, offer them a place for
reflection.'
It is this aim of making the collection more accessible that
prompted the launch of the 'Kunstaanbieding'. Most of
Rabobank's collection is housed in lltrecht and Eindhoven,
so it is not easily seen by international Rabobankers around
the network. Through the 'Kunstaanbieding' (literally: Art
offer), which is open from September to October 2002, you
have the opportunity to purchase speeially commissioned art
works. If you are interested in finding out more about how
you can participate in the 'Kunstaanbieding 2002', or you
simply want to see more of the collection, email the art
department at fm.rn.kunstzaken@rn.rabobank.nl or look it
up on meeting point.
Marieke van Schijndel - evolving collection policies
I Rl The Word I
