Janwillem Schrofer (1945–2026)

Janwillem Schrofer, director of the Rijksakademie from 1982 to 2010, passed away on 8 January.

Visionary and impassioned, he transformed the Rijksakademie almost half a century ago into the international artist residency it is today.

Janwillem Schrofer had only one dream, he said in an interview with De Volkskrant newspaper on the occasion of his retirement in 2010: “To create a hospitable place where individual artists can develop their talents. Sitting together at a table under a tree, eating, drinking and talking, like the ancient Greek ‘akademie’ – with a ‘k’.”

This idea of hospitality was important. During his student days – he studied organisational sociology in Rotterdam – his friends affectionately dubbed him ‘The Host’, someone who remained slightly on the sidelines while creating the conditions for meeting and being together. He considered his nickname as an honourable prophecy for his later career. During his three decades as director, he realised his dream and left an indelible imprint on the DNA of the Rijksakademie. Much of what the Rijksakademie is recognised for today, came from his pen.

When he took office in 1982 – initially as interim director – the Rijksakademie was considered an old-fashioned, dusty and no longer relevant art academy, on the verge of closure. Janwillem was tasked with implementing a radical change of course. He considered the traditional academy model outdated and developed a vision for "an institute for practical study", a community for artists, without a curriculum, with workshops led by technical specialists and renowned artistic advisors acting as sounding boards. "A sanctuary at a very high level", where there was above all room for development, discussion and experiment. In the years that followed, this idea took further shape. With the radical reorganisation that accompanied it, he saved the institute from ruin – something he would do again in the early 2000s after severe budget cuts. He also breathed new life into the Prix de Rome, which was organised and facilitated by the Rijksakademie from 1870 to 2011.

In the 1990s, with the move to the Kavallerie-Kazerne on the Sarphatistraat, his plans really gained momentum. The ‘old’ Rijksakademie was left behind for good, making way for a renaissance to unfold. Janwillem was closely involved in the renovation of the barracks and opened the doors to more and more artists from outside the Netherlands, first from (Eastern) Europe and later also from North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He believed that this internationalisation was essential to make the Rijksakademie future-proof. The network that this created also proved crucial for the international careers of many artists. The Rijksakademie became even more of a Research Residency, with greater attention to creating and improving the working and living conditions of artists.

He also introduced Open Studios, then known as Open Ateliers, as an annual event to show the outside world what was happening behind the walls. He believed that the taxpaying public should be able to visit the building and studios once a year. Pragmatic as he was, he knew that visibility was necessary for funding. It proved to be a successful formula.

To further secure the future of the Rijksakademie, he began raising private funds, which grew into the Trust Fund Foundation, and ensured that the Rijksakademie became independent in 1999.

The new course of internationalisation led him to establish the RAIN network in the early 2000s, together with Els van Odijk. RAIN is a virtual network of artist initiatives by Rijksakademie alumni, particularly from countries in the Global South. It offered a counterpoint to the dominant idea that Western Europe is the epicentre of the contemporary art world and contributed to the growing international reputation of the Rijksakademie. One of these initiatives, the artist collective ruangrupa in Jakarta, became the curatorial team for documenta in Kassel in 2022.

At the end of his tenure as director, Janwillem played an important role in establishing the Artists' Endowment Fund and the auction at Sotheby's that marked its launch. This ‘artists for artists’ fund was filled with proceeds from auctioned artworks by alumni and advisors. Janwillem became chairman of the independent foundation, which ensures that these funds flow back into the working budgets of the artists of the Rijksakademie.

Upon his departure in 2010, he was appointed Officer in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. But of course, he did not really retire. He remained active in the field through his Valtana Consultancy, published his book 'Plan and Play, Play and Plan, Defining Your Art Practice' in 2018, gave guest lectures and held numerous advisory and board positions in the Netherlands and abroad. He always remained closely involved with the Rijksakademie.

Janwillem's contribution to the Rijksakademie is invaluable. Everything he initiated during his ‘hostship’ – the international residency programme, the internationalisation of the institute, the Open Studios, RAIN, the Artists’ Endowment Fund, and much more – will resonate far into the future. More importantly, he has meant a great deal to generations of international artists. We will sorely miss his boundless dedication and energy and cherish his legacy.

We wish his daughters, family and friends much strength in coping with this great loss.