Vision
Buro Stedelijk is a place to discover Amsterdam’s dynamic and forward-thinking art scene.
Buro Stedelijk is a hybrid art space that celebrates community and encourages experiment and boundary-pushing art. As a decentralized observatory, it is attentive to community needs and promotes artistic expression. By fostering collaboration between artists, communities, and institutions, Buro Stedelijk aims to inspire new perspectives and active civic participation.
A place where curators, artists and other makers have the freedom to create and present new work which will give fresh impetus to Amsterdam.
In December 2022, Rita Ouédraogo and Azu Nwagbogu collaboratively conceptualized the operating framework of Buro Stedelijk. As of December 2023, Rita guides Buro Stedelijk into its next phase, introducing new developments and progressions. Teaming up with Project Manager Niels Staats, Rita Ouédraogo has since given shape to an independent platform that operates autonomously within the museum. The curatorial philosophy revolves around experimentation and forging connections across diverse disciplines. Consistently delving into the ongoing reevaluation of ideas, pushing boundaries to refine one’s own and others’ thinking.
The umbrella term ‘manifestations’ is utilized to encompass all projects initiated by Buro. The founding curators purposefully avoid rigid distinctions between exhibitions and essays, choosing instead to treat each project with equal significance. Buro consistently develops innovative and forward-thinking manifestations that engage with pertinent and contemporary themes in diverse formats.
Buro Stedelijk, an initiative by the Stedelijk Museum, features a central ‘project’ space located within the museum premises. Manifestations unfold not only in the central space but also extend to the Studio Space and Offside, catering primarily to a national audience while also reaching an international one.