Groninger Museum and University of Groningen start unique training programme

In November 2014, the Groninger Museum and the Department of Art History at the University of Groningen will start an exciting new talent development project, whereby a recent graduate from the University will spend two years training to become a museum curator. The course will equip the graduate with general knowledge of the field along with the more specific knowledge and skills needed for the profession. This programme is unique in the Netherlands . The Beringer Hazewinkel Foundation is providing the funding for the partnership.

The first graduate to embark on the Trainee Curator programme was recently selected. Art Historian Suzanne Rus (Veendam, 1990) was selected from a large group of suitable candidates. Suzanne graduated with distinction in 2013.

As from 1 November, she will spend two years working full-time in a range of art disciplines. Her ultimate aim is to devise a product such as an exhibition or publication, which focuses on regional art history, completely independently.

In the words of Dirk Jan Wolffram, Vice Dean of the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Arts, ‘Th e partnership between the Groninger Museum, the Master’s degree programme in Curation taught at the Faculty of Arts and the Beringer Hazewinkel Foundation is hugely important to us as it expresses our ambition to help our students into a career ‘in the real world’. The position of Trainee Curator, which came about thanks to partnerships outside academia, offers a unique opportunity to develop academic talent while gaining experience in the field. It dovetails perfectly with our dual Master’s degree programme in Art History.’

The Beringer Hazewinkel Foundation is funding the partnership. This foundation aims to promote the fine arts by providing financial support. Franck Smit, Chair of the Beringer Hazewinkel Foundation, is proud to have the name of the foundation linked to the Trainee Curator programme. He says, ‘The Beringer Hazewinkel Foundation hopes that Suzanne Rus will be able to develop her talents in this position, and contribute to the development and innovation of the Groninger Museum.’

Andreas Blühm, director of the Groninger Museum, is delighted with the appointment. ‘ A museum is obviously the best place to acquire the knowledge you need to embark on a career as a curator. This position will also enhance and enrich the team of curators. I see it as a chance to draw attention to regional art history and the artist collective De Ploeg, and to initiate discussions on entirely new subjects.’