Local artists who used the Visual Artists Scheme (BKR) in the period 1956-1987 now have the opportunity to get their work back. Rix Wierenga (1947) is one of them. Dozens of works she made in the 1970s are now in her possession again.
“I think artists should be held accountable for their work and I think it's great that artists have the opportunity to get the works back. It is a pity that it was not purchased, but I think it is a nice thought that it has been in people's homes. In this scheme everyone received the same amount for 2 or 3 months. Then you submitted work for that. A committee then made a selection. The works that I now have back, I made when I had just graduated from the Minerva art academy. I've evolved naturally since then. I now save them to my recently created art first, which is better.”
There are still some works of art by Rix Wierenga that can be borrowed or purchased, view them here.
Returns of BKR works
Kunstpunt Groningen's Kunstuitleen (formerly CBK Groningen) manages and exploits the art collection of the municipality of Groningen. This collection includes non-museum works, including works from the Visual Artists Regulation. In the period 1956-1987, the municipality of Groningen acquired work by local artists as part of this scheme. Many of these works are no longer actively used for the Art Library. The municipality of Groningen has therefore decided to return these works to the (heirs of) artists as much as possible.
Are you an artist (or an heir of) and are you interested in returning work you made in the context of the BKR scheme? Read more here.