M A R I E L L E V A N D E K E R K H O F
Art and Culture
Business Development Specialist - Curator
2023
Museum Helmond
Castle garden through the ages
For nearly 700 years, Helmond Castle, the largest moated castle in the Netherlands, has stood at the heart of the city. The city castle changed its function over the centuries, as did its castle garden. In the exhibition Kasteeltuin door de eeuwen heen, we shed light on the different functions of the Kasteeltuin within its historical context. Now for more than 100 years the Castle Garden has been a city park, open to everyone.
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We show the historical context is interplay with the contemporary work of visual artist Linda Nieuwstad. Her life-size flowers, based on floral still lifes from the seventeenth century, are often made from residual materials such as truck tarps and wool blankets. As a nod to the flowers that used to bloom around the castle, Linda Nieuwstad is creating a new flower still life from the fabrics of Vlisco, famous for its colorful Dutch Wax Prints. Linda is doing this in collaboration with residents of Helmond. The result will blossom in various stages during the exhibition.
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The exhibition was made possible in part by the Mondriaan Fund, Prince Bernhard Culture Fund and Vlisco.
2022
Museum Helmond
Anthropocene
The Age of Man
Anthropocene tells the story of our impact as humans on the earth through spectacular photos, films and with virtual and augmented reality. The exhibition is a collaboration between three acclaimed Canadian artists: photographer Edward Burtynsky and filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier. In addition to the exhibition, we have developed a regular transcendent public program (including a VO education project) in the form of the Global Green Room. In addition to being a knowledge center, the Global Green Room is primarily a center of awareness. This exhibition and accompanying public program are made possible by the generous support of the Mondriaan Fund, Turing Foundation, Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds, Fonds 21, Zabawas, Municipality of Helmond, Embassy of Canada, Driessen Groep and Kuijpers.
2020
Museum Helmond
Lucas Gassel
Lucas Gassel - Master Painter of the Landscape
In 2020, the exhibition Lucas Gassel van Helmond - Master of the Landscape will take place. Museum Helmond will present for the first time the life and work of the sixteenth-century artist Lucas Gassel, who comes from Helmond. As much of his oeuvre (paintings, drawings and prints) as possible will be brought together for the exhibition, from all over the world. I am involved in this exhibition because funds must be raised both regionally and nationally for this unique exhibition, which will largely consist of foreign, and therefore also expensive, loans.
This exhibition was made possible by, among others: Vereniging Rembrandt (thanks to the Schoufour-Martin Fund), Turing Foundation, BankGiro Loterij, Zabawas, Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds, Rabobank Coöperatiefonds, Grensverleggers van Bij de Buren, Mondriaanfonds, VSBfonds, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds 21 and Brabantant C.
2019
Museum Helmond
Maria van Branbant, Empress
The exhibition 'Maria van Brabant, Empress' is a tribute to the life of Maria van Brabant (1189-1260), Lady of Helmond and a prominent inhabitant of the city. She is regarded as an example of a strong woman who had a great influence on the culture and history of her time. Christie van der Haak (The Hague, 1950) gives her own vision of this medieval story with new works of art and patterns. She has been inspired by the life of Maria van Brabant and translates that inspiration into the patterns that are so characteristic of her.
The exhibition will provide a total transformation of these rooms in Helmond Castle.
This exhibition is made possible in part by the Mondriaan Fund.
2017
Museum Helmond
Castle on fire
Following the redesign of the castle presentations, we were given the opportunity to open the castle attic to the public.
During the attic tour Castle on fire you wander through the centuries-old attic of the castle. Shadows and voices lead you past authentic castle elements and tell you about the great fire in 1549.
This was made possible by a fantastic contribution from the BankGiro Lottery. This was the proverbial icing on the cake for both Museum Helmond.
2016
Museum Helmond
Redevelopment of the Castle
In 2015/2016, a large-scale redevelopment took place in Helmond Castle. Now, 700 years of history can be seen and experienced in the largest moated castle in the Netherlands.
This project was made possible by the following funds:
Mondriaan Fund, VSB Fund, Rabobank Cooperative Fund, Bouwfonds Cultural Fund, Prince Bernard Cultural Fund and the Welfare Support Foundation.
2017 - present
Art Quarter
Ready to Rock
Ready To Rock! is a super fun pop music project at school for pupils in groups 6, 7 and 8. In the Ready To Rock lessons, the kids learn to play a musical instrument, play together in a band and work towards an awesome performance during the Ready To Rock Festival.
How does it work? After 15 lessons, the Rockers are ready to continue in bands. The bands consist of students from the various schools that participate. This expands the world of the children (and parents) and they get in touch with children they would otherwise never have met. During the band lessons, a pop song is rehearsed that is eventually rocked on a professional pop stage during the Ready to Rock Festival.
Ready to Rock goes beyond just making music. Music is used as a means to develop Dutch and English language, stimulate creative and social development, create more self-confidence and perseverance and appeal to the sense of responsibility.
After a number of very successful editions in Helmond, Read y to Rock has expanded to three schools in Geldrop-Mierlo.
Ready to Rock has been made possible in recent years by, among others, the Oranjefonds, Stichting Thomas van Villanova, Rabobank Peelregio, Stichting Leergeld, Jeugdfonds Cultuur, the municipality of Helmond, the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo, Ondernemersfonds Helmond and Rabobank regio Eindhoven.
Photo Dave van Hout
2019
Urban Matterz
Hip Hop Has No Age
Urban Matterz in collaboration with OBCH
Hip Hop Has No Age is a workshop that is specially made for the elderly. It is special to see how pleasantly surprised this target group is to come into contact with Urban music and Urban activities that are often completely new to them.
For these workshops we received a stimulus contribution from NKV building. Stichting Steun en Welzijnszorg also supports this project wholeheartedly.
Photo Hans van de Berkmortel
