Veldwerk
Expertise & Research Programme for the Professional Field
What happens to your artwork when you are no longer around? How do you design meaningful participation around an art project? With Veldwerk, Kunstpunt Groningen takes the lead in researching and deepening artistic practice and the development of art in public space. Veldwerk is not a fixed programme, but a research methodology: curious, critical, and in active dialogue with professionals from various disciplines.
For nearly 40 years, Kunstpunt has been working at the intersection of creating, mentoring, realizing, managing, and activating art. We know the art field from the inside out; we see where questions arise, where knowledge is lacking, and where there is a need for exchange and deeper understanding. From this position, we developed Veldwerk: a platform where practical experience and knowledge development come together. We ourselves are constantly working to expand our own expertise, and we therefore see Veldwerk as an opportunity to share this expertise and to grow it together with the field. Together, we reflect on how current developments in the arts and in professional practice (from local to global) can be translated into one’s own practice.
Research Rooted in Practice
Veldwerk starts from the everyday reality of artists and other professionals, and from the questions that arise in the studio, during commissioned projects, in public space, and in interaction with policy, institutions, and audiences. The programme offers a space for reflection, knowledge sharing, and in-depth exploration: a shared research environment in which participants develop new insights and expand their expertise.
Why a Research Programme for Art Professionals Is Needed Now
The world of visual art is constantly changing: commissions are becoming more complex due to, for example, stricter laws and regulations and increased demands regarding participation; responsibilities are shifting, and societal issues are playing an ever-greater role. With the disappearance of centres for visual art, much knowledge has become fragmented, and there is a lack of space for exchange and collective reflection. Veldwerk fills this gap. It provides a framework in which art professionals—both emerging and experienced—can learn, research, and develop within practice itself.
For Kunstpunt, continuous reflection and development are self-evident. New developments in the arts, changing urban contexts, and societal issues call for attention and dialogue. By staying in conversation with artists and other professionals, Kunstpunt remains connected to what is happening in the field, creating space for new insights and collaboration.
Who Is Veldwerk For?
Veldwerk is intended for artists, curators, commissioners, policymakers, producers, educators, and other professionals involved in art, education, and the public realm. All perspectives are welcome. It is precisely this plurality of voices that makes it possible to approach complex questions with care and from multiple angles. Everyone is a participant: each person brings their own experience and expertise and contributes to the shared research.
Veldwerk’s Working Method and Programme Structure
Veldwerk operates in a modular and flexible way, with open or closed sessions, conversations, site visits, workshops, or other formats. Programme components are tailored to the different phases of the careers of artists and other art professionals—sometimes focused on broadening perspectives, at other times on deepening knowledge. This allows Veldwerk to respond quickly to current questions and ensures that both content and format remain in constant motion. The themes follow signals from the field as well as Kunstpunt’s own practical experience.
In addition to the thematic programme, Kunstpunt also offers, under the banner of Veldwerk, three fixed annual “crash course” days. These cover topics ranging from writing funding applications and drafting budgets to the latest strategies for guiding the viewing of art, as well as updates on the most current developments in visual art and design.
A Regionally Rooted and Nationally Connected Network
Kunstpunt is firmly rooted in Groningen and the northern Netherlands, connecting local practices with national networks and developments. By collaborating with partner institutions, we ensure a cohesive programme that builds on existing expertise and initiatives. Veldwerk strengthens the cultural infrastructure, promotes sustainable knowledge sharing, and contributes to a future-oriented and innovative arts field.
Programme Launch: Legacy
On 5 February, Veldwerk launches with the theme legacy. Central questions include: how do I ensure that my artworks end up in the right places after my death, how do I arrange my estate, and what role do heirs play in managing my work? This theme touches on artistic practice, stewardship, and the future, and is particularly suited to collective reflection and knowledge development from multiple perspectives. In addition to the practical matters that artists and/or their next of kin need to arrange, it also raises questions about what constitutes the core of an oeuvre (and what should be preserved and documented), or even what its ecological footprint might be.
Veldwerk: The Kick-off
During the kick-off, we will introduce the programme and screen the short documentary Fluisteraars by director Saskia Jeulink, followed by a discussion. A central role in this conversation is played by the work of Loes Heebink, who reflects deeply on the traces one leaves behind as an artist. Both will be present as guests. You are warmly invited—participation in the Veldwerk kick-off is free of charge.
Practical Information
📍 Kunstpunt Groningen, Trompsingel 27a
📅 Thursday, 5 February
Programme
🕓 3:45 pm – Arrival
🕓 4:00 pm – Veldwerk kick-off
🕔 5:00 pm – Arrival for networking drinks
🕗 5:30 pm – Networking drinks, bingo & pizza
🕗 8:00 pm – End
Themes and Research Lines within Veldwerk
In addition to legacy, several other themes are planned, including participation, parenthood, education, and professional development of artistic practice. Topics include finances, grant applications, roundtable discussions, portfolio development, and other tools that support artists and professionals in their growth and in building a sustainable practice.
With Veldwerk, Kunstpunt invites the field to actively think along, research together, and help build a strong, relevant, and future-oriented practice. We are always open to proposals for topics that we can explore collectively and that deserve a broader platform.