Organisation
WHO WE ARE
Amsterdam Light Festival is a cultural ANBI foundation, which means we operate on a non-profit basis. The festival is a private initiative and we collaborate intensively with the municipality, cultural organizations and businesses. We do not receive structural support from municipality and funds.
We make and place freely accessible art in the public space; the total costs of €3 mln. are covered with contributions of cruise companies, a walking app and collaborations. All income flows back to the festival directly and is used to support the art, artists, technical crew and our employees. Every edition is a challenge, as can be seen in the chart below.
WHAT WE DO
The core of our festival is co-creation; we work together with many stakeholders in all facets of the festival and empower each other to bring about one, multivocal story.
The Amsterdam Light Festival Foundation highly values creativity and technical quality. This is guaranteed by making strategic and operations connections to the (artistic) expertise of specialists. This way, we continue to inspire ourselves, we remain flexible to move along with society, and we guarantee and strengthen our artistic congruence. We not only illuminate the city during the dark winter months, but year-round.
MISSION
To use the universal language of light art in the public space to connect and enrich people.
VISION
We think that art must be made as accessible as possible, by bringing it to people. We believe that interventions in a familiar environment can lead to new energy and insights. By presenting light art in the public space we are able to impact a large audience: in the urban and in the digital world. This way we positively contribute to contemporary challenges of inhabitants and visitors of the city.
CORE VALUES
Creative
Programming light art in and on the water of Amsterdam demands permanent creativity and resourcefulness: artistically, technically, and organisationally.
Accessible
As a cultural festival in the public space, we are firmly rooted in society. We are here for everyone; we share and connect.
Entrepreneurial
We cherish our origins within Amsterdam's network of entrepreneurs. It's no coincidence that we take the lead in creating long-term and active collaborations with (cultural) institutions, businesses, and other organisations.
Responsible
Our social mission and presence in public space entail responsibilities that we embrace. Amsterdam Light Festival is here for Amsterdam.
THE TEAM
A shared passion for light art connects the team that actively aims to have a meaningful impact on society year-round. The team consists of: Felix Guttmann (Interim Director), Pam Toonen (Curator), Christopher Grabski (Curator), Niels Carels (Lead Storyteller), Joanne de Roest (Production & Operations), Monique Portegies (Project Leader Artworks), Annabel Thomas (Permanent Art), Ping Gao (Finance), Arsalan Alim (Finance), Gonny Groothuis (Office Manager), Nicole de Klerk (Relationships Manager), Janette van der Valk (Partnership Marketeer), Nicoline Meijer (Marketing Manager), Femke van Heerdt (Education) and Bonnie Kaldenbach (HR). Next to that, the artworks are developed, built up and mantained by a fantastic technical production crew. We also work together with many freelancers and interns.
OUR PATRONESS
Succeeding Eberhard van der Laan, Femke Halsema has been patroness of Amsterdam Light Festival since 2020. She symbolically opened both Edition 7 and Edition 8. Femke Halsema: "Amsterdam Light Festival is very dear to me, because the festival does not only illuminate the city with art, it brings together residents and visitors".
