Niels Knelis Meijer
The climate control system hums softly through the long, empty corridor. No windows, only artificial light. On either side there are doors: grey, each with its own letter. Behind each door lie a total of almost 60,000 works of art, waiting to be brought out again. It may sound a bit sad, but anyone who gets a tour from Marlon Steensma will understand the magic of a museum depot as more doors open. “Touching art and working with art is really the most special and fun thing there is,” says the Head of Collections in the room full of paintings. She points to a portrait of a large lady standing on an easel, as if the maker has just put down the brush: “she’s going to come along soon.” Along in the big golden truck to the next destination: the museum or elsewhere, as a loan.
MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION
As Head of Collections at the Groninger Museum, Steensma and her team are involved in the practical aspects of art: the management and preservation of the collection. For example, each object is meticulously registered, described and photographed. “You are right on top of the most special things all day long. Other daily tasks include checking the location and condition of objects. And packing and unpacking works that are leaving or returning,” she says. She and her team are also responsible for the art handling of works of art during the construction and dismantling of exhibitions or changes of works of art in the museum, because they are virtually the only ones allowed to hold art. “It is very funny to see people’s faces when a work of art has to be changed in the gallery and we have to do that during opening hours,” she says, laughing. “What are you doing?!”
Steensma also knows exactly which pieces the museum's collection consists of. Her vote counts for new purchases. "Because I know exactly what we already have, when a curator makes a proposal for a purchase I mainly look at whether it fits in with the collection." In addition, and not entirely unimportantly, she looks at the condition of the work. "The practical conditions. Does it need to be restored? Where does it need to come from? And what does that cost? Then we see whether it all comes together."
CO-CURATOR
Because Steensma knows so well what can be found in the depot, she was also active as co-curator for the exhibition in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Groninger Museum, Behind the Scenes. “I am indeed the one who selected all the works of art, together with curator Lieuwe Jongsma and our general director Andreas Blühm. That was quite a challenge, because we wanted to tell a new story with our existing collection.”
The exhibition is a unique look behind the scenes of the Groninger Museum. Steensma therefore decided not to only choose art objects. “For example, we dismantled a painting rack from the depot and rebuilt it in the museum,” she says. Such an exhibition also requires well-coordinated planning. Because Behind the Scenes can be seen until June 2025, artworks have to be replaced with new ones every now and then. “Prints, for example, can only be exhibited for three months,” Steensma says. “So I already know when we are going to change.”
THE MAGIC OF A MUSEUM DEPOT
Despite the systematic and structured approach her work requires – preparations for exhibitions usually start two years in advance – no day in the life of the Head of Collections is the same. “I came here twelve years ago after my Art History degree and I still haven’t seen enough. It’s far from finished.” The magic of a museum depot never gets boring. Because, Steensma knows, “you discover something new every time.”
The Groninger Museum 150 years – Behind the Scenes exhibition can be visited until 1 June 2025.