Second edition of Arnhems Stadsatelier;
Arnhem Stadsatelier is a collaboration between four Arnhem-based cultural organizations: Theater a/d Rijn, Plaatsmaken, ArtEZ University of the Arts, and The HUB. The goal of this partnership is to make the Arnhem art scene more diverse and accessible, for both artists and the public. New ways of collaborating between art, the public, and society are central to this project.
In the Arnhems Stadsatelier project, working periods are organized in which artists are given the space to conduct artistic research at various locations in Arnhem and share this with the city. There is one long-term trajectory, the city residency. This year it is visual artist Frank Koolen. He has been selected to carry out research connected to the city of Arnhem. In addition, six short residencies are organized, in which emerging artists are given room to experiment, gain experience, further develop their skills, and share their work with the public. They receive support from the collaborating organizations.
At Plaatsmaken, artists are given space to experiment in graphic workshops and the exhibition space. Theater aan de Rijn provides a stage and helps reach an appropriate audience. ArtEZ offers support through the online platform APRIA, guidance with research questions, and connections with programs and students. The Hub connects students, autodidacts, and alumni, and helps residents take their first steps into the professional cultural field.
The city resident of 2026 is artist, teacher, workshop leader, and organizer Frank Koolen. He creates installations, videos, performances, drawings, and sculptures. Frank enjoys making work for and with others and likes to share the joy he himself experiences in art. He believes that art does not have to be anything in particular, but that it can be a beautiful starting point for social change or a different kind of awareness. His main driving force is his enthusiasm for the creative process as an engine for an open and empathetic perspective. Important ingredients for Frank include the use of humor, disruption, and improvisation. In FIASCO TOTAAL, Frank Koolen’s research project, the creative process as a driving force for play, dialogue, and new discoveries takes center stage. It is a dynamic, experimental, and playful exploration of the methods and effects of collectivity, “working together,” and collaboration, in which the process and the shared experience are central. In 2025, Frank Koolen began his city residency at art space OMSTAND in Arnhem.
Throughout the year, six emerging artists are given space to experiment at Plaatsmaken and Theater aan de Rijn. Updates on public activities can be found on the partners’ websites. The outcomes of the research will be presented at various locations across the city. At the end of 2025, several presentations and workshops by Koolen took place at Omstand.
Arnhems Stadsatelier is made possible by the Municipality of Arnhem.
