Carlijn Diesfeldt works as an independent curator and advisor and is specialised in setting up and curating long-running arts programmes linked to spatial and societal processes of transformation. She was involved in BEYOND Leidsche Rijn (2000-2009) a ten-year programme about art and urbanization in the public space of a new Utrecht suburb. Carlijn founded Land Art Contemporary in the province of Drenthe (2011) and was the initiator and curator of the Department of Search (2014-2018). Together with fellow curator Suzanne Sanders she laid the groundwork for the commons arts programme Gemene Grond (2021 - ). In addition, Carlijn has been advisor to the Mondrian Fund since 2021 and the Amsterdam Art Fund (since 2018) as well being a member of the arts committees in Utrecht, Beverwijk and Zaanstad.

Carolien is a Senior Policy Advisor Visual Arts & Art in the Public Space and is programme leader for the Gemene Grond art programme at the Utrecht local authority. As intermediary, advisor and project leader art in the public space at the Centrum Beeldende Kunst Groningen and the Amersfoort local authority, she supervised numerous art projects and commissioned projects on behalf of the local authority for the 10-year arts programme Kunst in Vathorst. In Amersfoort Carolien advised on the foundation of the Armando Museum and the composition of its collection, a museum merger and the establishment and newbuild of the Kunsthal KAdE. In Utrecht Carolien is account holder for the city’s Centraal Museum, contemporary art centre BAK, IMPAKT, Casco, FOTODOK and the new presentation venue OP&. In addition she was co-founder of the DepARTment store (a pop-up store focused on art and design), a contributing author for Lucy in de Lucht and other online platforms and an advisor to Groningen’s art council. She has also organized various exhibitions. Carolien holds a degree in Art and Art Policy from Groningen University.

Ella Derksen is a driven and committed consultant with a wide range of experience within the art, culture and heritage sector. She works as developer and pioneer for and with various institutions but also as a policymaker and forward thinker for local government. Derksen has a background in the visual arts and is particularly interested in societal points of contact and interdisciplinarity. At all times she has an eye for origins, impact and developmental possibilities. Ella completed her fine arts degree in 1986 and after practicing as an artist for several years, she helped found the Utrecht-based foundation Casco in 1989. In the late 1990’s she was director of De Verbeelding | kunst | landschap | natuur in Zeewolde in Flevoland province. In 2012 she started her own consultancy EMBEDDING THE ARTS, advising on and supervising artistic commissions for museums and local and provincial authorities. One of her major projects was advising on the artworks for the metro stations on Amsterdam’s new north-south line. Ella also initiates projects, programmes and exhibitions in the public space and semi-public spaces, such as the long-running art programmes at the former Soesterberg airbase. In 2015 this initiative garnered her a nomination from the Art of Impact fund for impact producer of the year. From 2014 through 2021, Ella was a member of the Amsterdam Arts Council, sitting on the committee for Fine Arts and Digital Culture. During the last five years Ella has regularly worked on art projects and programmes commissioned by the Utrecht local authority’s Cultural Affairs department.

I am a conceptual artist and creative connector with a background in photography and fine arts. My work focuses on socially engaged art projects that bridge sectors, such as art & care and art & inclusion. Based in Utrecht, I work as an arts & culture project leader at AxionContinu, board member at Das Spectrum, and curator at Gemene Grond. With over 20 years of experience in the city, I develop projects that challenge boundaries, apply intersectional thinking, and create new insights — both locally and beyond.

Website ontwerp i.s.m. Maud Vervenne
Website ontwikkeling

Grafische identiteit Gemene Grond
Website ontwerp i.s.m. Bram van den Berg