ABN AMRO and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam extend partnership by two years

From its economic and societal role, ABN AMRO seeks to visibly align itself with exhibitions, activities and educational programmes at the Stedelijk Museum that contribute to equal opportunities for women, children and young people. The Stedelijk Museum has consciously chosen to renew the partnership, as both organisations share the ambition to enhance access to art and design in the broadest sense, guided by the principle of equal opportunity.

“The extension shows our ongoing commitment to accelerating equal opportunities,” says Sander Bestevaar, Head of Partnerships, Events and Foundations at ABN AMRO. “Together with our partners in arts and culture, we remove barriers for female artists and for young people growing up in less advantaged circumstances. The Stedelijk Museum provides a powerful platform to make art accessible through exhibitions and education. And each year, ABN AMRO honours an artist with the ABN AMRO Art Award, with the winners’ work being exhibited at the Stedelijk Museum.”

Structural focus on female artists

A key element of the partnership is long-term support for female artists within the Stedelijk Museum’s programme. Each year, ABN AMRO partners with an exhibition by a female artist. In 2026, the bank will be the main partner of the exhibition by Yayoi Kusama. As part of this, ABN AMRO has adopted the Kusama Kids Festival and the audio tour for adult visitors. The bank also contributes to the accompanying educational materials for children.

In addition, the Stedelijk Museum annually hosts an exhibition by the winner of the ABN AMRO Art Award. On 7 March 2026, the exhibition of the 2025 winner, Ivna Esajas, opened at the museum. The next winner of the ABN AMRO Art Award will be announced in May 2026.

“ABN AMRO is a partner that engages with us on content and remains closely involved over the long term,” says Rein Wolfs, Director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. “Thanks in part to this collaboration, we can offer female artists a sustained platform and make our exhibitions and educational programmes accessible to the widest possible audience.”

‘Blikopeners’ and education

ABN AMRO is also continuing its partnership with the Stedelijk Museum’s ‘Blikopeners’ programme. ‘Blikopeners’ are young people from Amsterdam aged 15 to 19 who work at the museum for a year. As peer educators, they share their personal perspectives and knowledge about art with people their own age, both inside and outside the museum, including at schools and events.

In addition, the ABN AMRO Foundation organises at least three workshops a year for students at schools affiliated with the Youth Education Fund. Through these workshops, children and young people for whom access to art and culture is not a given are inspired and encouraged to discover their talents and ambitions.

With the extension of the partnership, ABN AMRO and the Stedelijk Museum underline their shared ambition to make art and culture accessible and to continue investing in education, talent and representation, guided by the principle of equal opportunity.

Photo: Janiek Dam. From left to right: Rein Wolfs, Keziah Goudsmit, Choy van der Hooft-Cheong, Lotte Kester, Sander Bestevaar and Imke Kadlecek.