Rotterdam is looking for City Illustrators 2022

Every year, the City Archives of Rotterdam and CBK Rotterdam look for artists who observe the city and depict their reflections in drawings, our City Artists! Over the past two years, the City Artists have documented the consequences of the corona pandemic in Rotterdam. The result could be seen in the Kunsthal between the lockdowns.

This year we have again chosen a topical theme: gentrification† This subject is causing a lot of discussion and commotion in Rotterdam. Because in contrast to the renewal and 'upgrading' of the old neighborhoods, there is the inevitable move of people from their familiar environment and affordable rental housing. Crooswijk and Katendrecht are well-known examples of neighborhoods where this has already happened. The Tweebosbuurt, Carnisse and the Zomerhofkwartier are in the middle of – or on the eve of – such a radical transformation.

It is not just about housing, but also about communities and the face of the city. For example, artists are in danger of losing their studio space in large former school buildings, because they are being converted into apartment complexes and commercial business spaces. Old inland ports are also increasingly having to make way for housing. There are Rotterdammers who say that they miss the 'raw' atmosphere of the past and that their city is becoming too hip and slick and people are being excluded. In short, gentrification keeps many people busy in Rotterdam and creates quite a few things.

Do you want to become a City Draftsman of 2022 and do you have ideas how you would shape the theme of gentrification? Send your motivation and portfolio before Tuesday 22 March to stadtekenaar@cbkrotterdam.nl

Your registration consists of:

· Your motivation (max. half A4)
· A concise CV (max. 1 A4) · Visual material in the form of a link to your page on artoffice.info or a digital portfolio of max. 20 MB.

A jury will choose from the entries. The jury consists of:

Hugo Borst (Rotterdammer, art lover – and collector)
· Hedy Tjin (artist)
David Snels (Kunsthal Rotterdam)
· Jantje Steenhuis and Wanda Waanders (Rotterdam City Archives)
Ove Lucas (CBK Rotterdam).

The drawings will be exhibited in the Kunsthal at the end of the year. They will then be included in the collection of the City Archives and will be part of the Rotterdam Collection. The fee for the city artist in 2022 is €5.000 per artist. Read the terms and conditions here† The selected city artists will be notified and will be listed on our websites within four weeks of the registration deadline.