Art Zuid is an open air sculpture exhibition in Amsterdams Southern quarter. It was first held in 2009 and the second edition opened on 27 May and ends on 28 August 2011. The exhibition in 2009 was called 'Berlage in sculptures'. The 14th of August, Antoine Poncet opened the exhibition. It was supported by mostly Dutch, prominent colliques, like the Stedelijk Museum and a lot of others. The event attracted 90,000 visitors. In 2011, the exhibition is called 'SCULPTURALE - THE WORLD AROUND'. Jan Cremer, a leading writer and artist, mixes European sculptures with works by artists from Brazil, China, Indonesia, the United States, and more. There are sculptures from artists like Anthony Caro and Jean Tinguely.
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The initiative for this project was taken by the residents themselves. Cintia van Heeswijck took the lead in 2008 and wanted to draw more attention to the Plan-Zuid, by organizing a great exhibition of sculptures. It was received very well in the neighbourhood and the rest of Amsterdam. People think it's innovative that children can discover their environment on such a young age and already get involved with cultural activities. For schoolchildren, there's a special education program. At every statue, there are questions about the material, shape, surface etc.
Art Zuid won the 'Europa Nostra Award' in 2009. [1] This exhibition was selected because it's an original way to exhibit pieces of art and at the same time draw attention to Berlage's 'Plan-Zuid', which is a part of Amsterdam that is known for its architecture. This area is international cultural heritage.
You can go to this event for free. It's close to the center of Amsterdam. It will take you about two and a half hours to see all the 50 statues. Next to every statue there is a sign with information, but you can also book a guided tour. For only €2,50, you can buy an app for your iPhone, iPod or iPad where you'll have all the information and quests for children.
Some examples of Art Zuid in the Dutch media: