"These are unprecedented times. COVID-19 leaves a mark on everybody’s life, physically, mentally or financially. The Art world is also heavily impacted. Many artists are unemployed at home without any prospect of a speedy recovery.
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam offers them a helping hand. This five star luxury hotel in the heart of the city invites a range of artists to come and stay and work and offers them board and lodging for free. This monumental building has a long history with the arts. The façade, the furniture and pieces of art, many famous artists from the past were involved: such as Hildo Krop, Chris Lebeau, Willem Penaat, Jospeh Mendes da Costa, John Raedecker and Johan Thorn Pricker.
Since this summer, the artists can stay one week in the, especially created, Artists in Residence Suite and work completely free, independent and undisturbed on a piece of art. The artists can also work anywhere within the hotel allowing them to observe, listen and maybe even interact with guests and team members. Some artists invite guests into the suite, whereas others portray their subject in the private garden.
The project is scheduled to last one year and at the end the 52 works of art will be displayed in a beautiful coffee-table book. The original pieces of art will be exhibited at the end of the year in the hotel and some will be put up for auction raising funds for charities that support the affected art-world. This can mean individual scholarships or a financial contribution towards exhibitions, performances or towards places where art and a social function come together. Also the proceeds of the book will be donated towards one of the causes
When choosing the artists the thing that is most important is that it allows for as many different art forms/disciplines to be included: painters, sculptors, graphic designers, illustrators, authors, poets, designers, architects, jewelry makers, fashion designers, photographers, choreographers, musicians, video makers, composers, DJ’s etc. As the art world is hit on all levels it will be a combination of renowned artists and young talents that will be selected: For instance: Ewerst Hilgemann (currently with a solo exhibit in the Kröller-Müller museum), Timothy Jacob Jensen, The London Police, Sarah van Sonsbeeck, Hans Aarsman, Renske van de Greef, Babah Tarawally, Bob Eshuis, Jurriaan van Hall, Frankey and Riveroshan. By means of digital links, URL’s, QR-codes etc art forms that cannot be captured by image will be able to be listened of experienced in the book.
The end result will show a most diverse and different view, a testimony of what currently goes on in the art world. The choice of artists is not set in stone but will evolve throughout the year. There will be regular updates in the media throughout the course of this initiative including interviews with the artists or otherwise current affairs. All this to achieve maximum enthusiasm for the project with the aim to raise as many funds, sell as many books as possible, for donations toward the charitable causes."
Artists in Residence at The Grand is an initiative of Ivo Weyel.
