I am a 29 year old professional artist in Denver Co. US. I have been working nearly my entire life and after a long year of feeling like this place which has always been my home, I find myself needing, (not just wanting) to leave this place. I love the landscape and weather, but the people and the way everything is structured is a huge point of discourse for me. I honestly feel so stuck that I need to take a leap and get out of this funk. My best friend, his wife and their 3 kids moved to Amsterdam a couple of years ago and they love it, so I am beginning the research for myself.
I know that my friends there are probably my best resource for this venture, however neither of them work in the same field as me and I am sure they make more money than me. I would like to feel a little bit more secure about this trip in April and have some questions answered before I even begin any visa requests et al.
What I am wondering:
-Does anyone have any tips and advice on the art community/creative fields in the NL? I am currently a preparator at the best gallery in the midwestern US and have been very good at what I do; assisting in the design of exhibitions, installations, working with artists, graphic design, shipping and receiving of works from around the world. I have been with this gallery off and on (mostly on) for the past 6 years and have installed about 50 exhibitions with artists such as Judy Pfaff, Ann Hamilton, Bernar Venet, Chen Wenling, Christo and Jeanne-Claude and so forth.
-I am also a crafter and helped a couple of friends open a craft store that has done incredibly well. Is there any market for a craft community in Amsterdam or Rotterdam? Anywhere else? I think it would be awesome to think about starting something akin to our shop here but there because it has been such a great business to build from the ground up.
-What is the best area for art and art sales in NL?
-I am also an avid gardener and interested in furthering my education in horticulture and garden knowledge. Does anyone know of somewhere where art and gardening/flower culture collide or a part of the country that I should look at for living to explore that?
Just a few thoughts I had on this chilly Denver afternoon.
I know that my friends there are probably my best resource for this venture, however neither of them work in the same field as me and I am sure they make more money than me. I would like to feel a little bit more secure about this trip in April and have some questions answered before I even begin any visa requests et al.
What I am wondering:
-Does anyone have any tips and advice on the art community/creative fields in the NL? I am currently a preparator at the best gallery in the midwestern US and have been very good at what I do; assisting in the design of exhibitions, installations, working with artists, graphic design, shipping and receiving of works from around the world. I have been with this gallery off and on (mostly on) for the past 6 years and have installed about 50 exhibitions with artists such as Judy Pfaff, Ann Hamilton, Bernar Venet, Chen Wenling, Christo and Jeanne-Claude and so forth.
-I am also a crafter and helped a couple of friends open a craft store that has done incredibly well. Is there any market for a craft community in Amsterdam or Rotterdam? Anywhere else? I think it would be awesome to think about starting something akin to our shop here but there because it has been such a great business to build from the ground up.
-What is the best area for art and art sales in NL?
-I am also an avid gardener and interested in furthering my education in horticulture and garden knowledge. Does anyone know of somewhere where art and gardening/flower culture collide or a part of the country that I should look at for living to explore that?
Just a few thoughts I had on this chilly Denver afternoon.
