The Artist Interview

One of the ways to obtain authentic, content-related and technical information on modern and contemporary artworks is to interview the artists who created them. To that end, the Foundation for the Conservation of Contemporary Art (SBMK)), the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE)) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) have formulated guidelines for a structured approach of the artist interview and compiled a number of interview scenarios as practical interview tools.

The aim of this handbook is to equip conservators, curators, art historians and students with tools to retrieve a wealth of accurate information from the artist and to allow the interested public a view behind the scenes of the conservation, preservation and presentation of modern and contemporary art. 

The Artist Interview. For Conservation and Presentation of Contemporary Art. Guidelines and Practice provides a variety of scenarios enriched with useful pointers, example questions and checklists to ensure a smooth progress of the artist interviews. The interview scenarios are supplemented with ten relevant articles on studio and museum interviews providing insight into the potentials and pitfalls of the artist interview as a conservation tool.  

The Artist Interview. Conservation and Presentation of Contemporary Art. Guidelines and Practice is an extensive manual with numerous interesting examples.

With contributions by Liesbeth Abraham (Frans Hals Museum), Lydia Beerkens (SBMK/SRAL), Frederika Huys (The House of Conservation/S.M.A.K), Jaap Guldemond (Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen/EYE Film Institute Netherlands), Paulien 't Hoen (SBMK), IJsbrand Hummelen (RCE), Mark Paul Meyer (EYE Film Institute Netherlands), Tatja Scholte (RCE), Ingeborg Smit (Rijksmuseum Twenthe), Sanneke Stigter (Kröller-Müller Museum /UvA), Sandra Weerdenburg (Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam).