Universities are (semi-)public spaces where choices in art and the cultural representation of heritage have a bearing on the lived experience of an institution’s students, staff and visitors. At the Uva Medical faculty (AMC), for example, contemporary art of the highest quality is carefully presented by a team of dedicated specialists. However, if we take a look at the display of paintings in core buildings of the UvA, like the auditoriums at the Lutherse Kerk or the Agnietenkapel, one is confronted with series of historical portraits of predominantly white old men. Little is known or explained about the selection of portraits and the significance of those depicted. And in other UvA buildings (i.e. De Doelenzaal or the Bushuis) one stumbles on (re-)presentations of the Dutch colonial past without any critical contextualization.  

The lack (or inconsistency) of care and context regarding the presentation of art and heritage in academic institutions is growingly questioned by students and staff. Not only at UvA: in November 2022 a social stir was caused when a group of female staff members at Leiden University took a painting off the wall representing a group of smoking white men. After a first public approval of the Leiden leadership via Twitter, it was decided that the painting should be returned to its original spot and a committee was asked to give an advice on what to do next. Part of the research was the organization of a symposium on the matter which took place on May 26, 2023.

The symposium Curating UvA?! Rethinking the Role of Art and Design in Academic Public Spaces will further the conversation with speakers from both the university and the museum world who will shed light on questions as: what curatorial strategies can be deployed to diversify narratives and transform academic buildings into welcoming, polyphonic spaces? What selections have been made by universities in the past and how has UvA chosen to represent itself? What processes and structures do we need to curate university spaces in thoughtful and inclusive ways?  And how does the role of the university as public space and strategies of curation relate to more fundamental issues regarding diversity, equity, inclusivity and accessibility at the university?

To discuss these questions we will be joined by, amongst others, Judi Mesman, Jörgen Tjon A Fong, Olav Velthuis, Els van der Plas, Marieke de Goede, Kitty Zijlmans, Sabrina Kamstra, Christa-Maria Lerm-Hayes.

The symposium is part of the programme Decolonial Dialogues@Humanities that is organized by the Faculty of Humanities in the year 2023 in the room that is formerly known as the ‘VOC Hall’.

Programme

• 13:00 Coffee and tea  
• 13.15 Welcome by the dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Marieke de Goede
• 13:20 Lecture by Margriet Schavemaker
• 13:35 Lecture by Mitchell Esajas  
• 13:50 Questions    
• 14:00 Interview: Kitty Zijlmans  
• 14:15 Round table 1: Curating power?
  with Olav Velthuis, Els van der Plas and Sabrina Kamstra  
• 14:45 Coffee & tea  
• 15:10 Round table 2: Diversifying narratives
  with Jörgen Tjon A Fong, Judi Mesman and Christa-Maria Lerm-Hayes
• 15:40 Open mic contributions
• 16:00 Interview: Geert ten Dam  
• 16:10 Closing conversation with speakers and audience  
• 16:30 Drinks