The Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam is - nationally and internationally - a factor of significance in contemporary visual arts; as a sanctuary, a hub and a rich source point. It is an ”Institute for Practical study” with characteristics of both a post-graduate research fellowship and an artist-in-residence centre.
Every year thirty artists are selected who can work at the Rijksakademie for two years on their own research, production and/or presentation.
The participating artists at the Rijksakademie come from all over the world.
Since 1995 active participants and mentors have been recruited from Africa, Asia and Latin America and, as a result, one third of the artists now originate from non-western countries.
Through the presence of artists and mentors with differing cultural backgrounds, the Rijksakademie creates an environment in which differing ideas about the quality and the function of art are given their due, and engage “in discussion” with each other.