euroArt and it's history

: Mary McCrossan (1864-1904), Wind and Surf, 1897

Since the 1980’s there has been a revival of the European artists’ colony. Only a few of the old colonies were still known as such and even they rarely made full use of their famous past. This changed when 100 years after their hey-day, the artists’ colonies became the focus-point of interest again. Books were published on them and exhibitions were organized. In many former artists’ colonies museums and galleries were set up. Old studios were renovated and sometimes put at the disposal of young artists for a while. The artistic heritage was given a new lease of life.

And when the Iron Curtain fell, it became clear how widespread the artists’ colonies were all over Europe and how much some kind of organization was needed to help them protect their past and create the possibility of a new - joint - artistic future. euroArt – the European Federation of Artists’ Colonies – came into being in 1994 as the essential network to this goal. It was founded in Brussels under the auspices of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

: Willem Maris (1844-1910), Meadows, no date

euroArt currently consists of about 80 member organizations, associated organizations and personal members, in more than 20 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

The members hold exhibitions together, exchange views, knowledge and artists.

And in annual meetings, next to keeping each other informed of developments in their several colonies, they all work together towards a greater cultural understanding and cooperation in a European context.

Frits van den Berghe
(1883-1939),
Landscape in Deurle, 1923

Fritz Strobentz (1856-1929),
Married couple from Dachau,
approx. 1900

Among euroArt’s highlights are:

- Participation at several "Tourism & Culture Fairs" (e.g. the World Tourist Fair in Berlin, which takes place annually).

- The exhibition "Künstlerkolonien in Europa. Im Zeichen der Ebene und des Himmels", Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg, Germany, 2001 -2002.

- The exhibition "Van Barbizon tot Laren. Kunstenaarskolonies in Europa", Singer Museum Laren, the Netherlands, 2002.

- The participation of euroArt in the program of the European Capital of Culture 2003 Graz, in Austria, with the exhibition "The EuropeanArtists’ Colonies today: Urban Space – Nature Space".

- The 10th anniversary of euroArt in the autumn of 2004 in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands, and the organization of a firstmaster-class for contemporary artists from the historical artists’colonies, led by the Icelandic artist Sigurdur Gudmundsson.

- The exhibition "Masterpieces from European Artist Colonies 1830-1930", organized by euroArt in cooperation with the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art in Atlanta GA, USA, 2005.

This Atlanta exhibition has given euroArt a transatlantic dimension by improving the overseas connections and strengthening the cultural bridge between Europe and the United States.

A summary of the information in Germancan be downloaded here: download here (PDF, 106 KB)