AMSTERDAM.- As from 1 February 2025, Vincent van Velsen will start as Head of Exhibitions at Eye Filmmuseum. Jaap Guldemond, who has held the role of Director of Exhibitions since 2012, will hand over this leadership position to Van Velsen and transition into the newly created role of Founding Director of the Eye Art Collection.

Vincent van Velsen is a curator, writer and editor with a background in art and architectural history. Since 2021, he was Curator of Contemporary Art and Photography at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, where he took care of the museum's acclaimed collection and curated solo exhibitions by Anne Imhof, Nan Goldin, Ellen Gallagher and Nora Turato.

Van Velsen also had an independent practice, organising exhibitions at Nest The Hague (2018), TENT Rotterdam (2019), Het Hem (2021), Nieuwe Instituut (2023) and Museum Catharijneconvent (2024), amongst others. Prior to his time at the Stedelijk he was a member of the curatorial team at sonsbeek20→24, board member at De Appel Amsterdam, advisor to the municipality of Amsterdam and chair of several committees at the Mondriaan Fund.

At Eye, Van Velsen will head the Exhibitions department. Alongside the team and the managing director, he will help define the artistic direction for the future. This will involve building on Eye Filmmuseum's innovative exhibition programme while further enhancing collaborations with other departments, institutions, and guest curators. From February onwards, Van Velsen will take on responsibility for exhibitions featuring Eye Prize winner Garrett Bradley (from 14 June) and Tilda Swinton (from 28 September).

High-profile approach

In view of his impending retirement and in the interest of a smooth transfer of knowledge, Jaap Guldemond will pass on his management role to the new Head of Exhibitions as from 1 February this year.

From the outset, Guldemond has played a pivotal role in shaping and leading Eye’s exhibition policy, establishing a high-profile approach that has positioned Eye at the forefront with groundbreaking exhibitions. His vision has showcased how film and the moving image can be presented in an innovative and multilayered manner.

With more than forty exhibitions under his belt, Guldemond has put Eye on the international map as an exhibition venue, while setting an example for many other museums and institutes throughout the world. Major exhibitions initiated and curated by Guldemond have featured Béla Tarr, Ryoji Ikeda, Saodat Ismailova, Francis Alÿs, Anthony McCall, Chantal Akerman, Andrej Tarkovsky, William Kentridge, Robby Müller, the Quay Brothers, and many others.

Publication exhibitions 2012 - 2026

Guldemond recently curated the exhibition by Turkish filmmaker and photographer Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and now takes up a new role as Founding Director Eye Art Collection. In this new position, Guldemond will carry out research into the possibilities of developing a specific collection of artworks for Eye alongside its renowned film collection, making use of his extensive network and experience as a leading creator of exhibitions at the intersection of film and visual art. In addition to this, Eye is in talks with LI-MA (platform for digital art) to explore a possible collaboration in the field of conservation and research.

Guldemond will also be working on a publication on the evolution, nature and significance of Eye’s exhibition policy since 2012, in combination with making video documentation of the exhibitions available. He will present his farewell exhibition in the autumn of 2026 – which is also the planned timeline for the presentation of the special publication on Eye Exhibitions 2012-2026.