Kunstplatform De Kapsalon

Kunstplatform de Kapsalon (Artplatform the Barbershop) is a foundation located in the Afrikaanderwijk in Rotterdam South. In November 2009 we started as two students who wanted their own space to experiment with artist and making exhibitions. We got the feeling that when you graduate as an artist you don’t have a lot of experience in how to make your own show. We want to provide starting artist with a space and some budget to let them find out how this all works. Together with all kind of artist collabrations and art institutes we made 12 exhibitions -some of them outside our own space- and created a big network. This all happened in an old re-build barbershop at the Afrikaandersquare, so that why the Barbershop became our name and signature.

9 months later we graduated from Art school with ‘De Kapsalon’  (‘The Barbershop’) as our gratuation project. Exactly one year later housing co-orporation Vestia gave us another building to work in, in the same street but this time on number 17. We called this place ‘Salon 17′. In Salon 17 we continued our work and made a big exhibition as an official opening of our new space. After this show we dicided we had grown to big to be just a project and became a foundation. So we have grown, and have learned a lot in 1,5 years and do much more now that just making exhibitions (movie night, discussion nights, political meetings, parties, open workspaces). Even though, we are still fighting for a open workplace for artist where they can get some experience, meet other artist and make new plans for the future. After all this time we learned that the neighborhood is important for us too and so we are -ofcourse- not only there fot artist but everyone who wants to come in, have a drink, need some travellers advice or has a good plan can sit down and have a chat.

Feel welcome yourself,

Ashley Nijland  & Coen van der Steen

Kunstplatform de Kapsalon

Opened: Tuesday-Friday 13:00-17:00 > have a look at the agenda for more events.