How to make the largest exhibition in two months
August 3–September 3, 2024
Big goal, big support
In the spring of 2024, three partners—All Rights Reversed Gallery, De Balie Amsterdam Art Center, and The Moscow Times —came together to organize an exhibition in Amsterdam featuring anti-war and dissident Russian-speaking artists. In just two months, we raised the funds and donations necessary to make the exhibition "Artists Against the Kremlin" a reality, marking it as the largest of its kind in history. The exhibition was supported by the Amsterdam City Hall, Stichting de Boomgaard, WEJansenfonds, Nederlands Letterenfonds, and over 100 private donors.
150+ original art pieces from 30 countries
The exhibition showcased over 150 original artworks in various techniques, alongside more than 200 multimedia and digital pieces. These works were shipped to Amsterdam from more than 30 countries, including Russia and Ukraine. This is four times the number of countries usually represented in the largest international exhibitions hosted by leading Dutch museums. Just imagine the logistical challenges we encountered—and ultimately overcame.
20 exiled artists at the vernissage
The vernissage of “Artists Against the Kremlin” took place at De Balie on August 2, 2024. Around 80 guests attended, including artists, journalists, collectors, donors, and officials. Thanks to the funds raised, we were able to bring 20 exiled artists from different parts of Eurasia to Amsterdam for the exhibition's opening. Most of these artists fled Russia to various countries due to their outspoken anti-war stance. They have lost clients and income, and have no way to return. One can imagine how emotional it was for them to reunite with colleagues and friends after more than two years of exile and to realize they were not alone in their anti-war message.
5,000 visitors and 30+ guided tours
More than 5,000 people visited the exhibition from August 3 to September 3, 2024, at De Balie in Amsterdam.
During this time, we organized over 30 guided tours for both local and international visitors.
Sold out public talks
The exhibition included four sold-out public talks with participating artists such as Philippenzo, Artem Loskutov, Nadia Raplya, Liza Pushkina, and others. As part of the special program, we organized the inaugural short film and animation festival Endless Fall, along with several documentary screenings followed by discussions with their creators: journalist and director Andrey Loshak, as well as TV Rain editors Ekaterina Kotrikadze and Tikhon Dzyadko.
Great coverage in main Dutch media
Three of the most important Dutch newspapers wrote multipage reviews about the Artists Against the Kremlin exhibition, as did the main weekly magazine De Groene Amsterdammer. The German TV channel ZDF and the independent Russian TV Rain also covered Artists Against the Kremlin.
Press about the exhibition
Trendbeheer
NRC
Het Parool
Glamcult
Trouw
De Groene Amsterdammer
ZDF TVRain
Exclusive collection of merch
Our partners Prometheus.shop created an exclusive collection of merchandise specifically for this project, including t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, mugs, and more. The merch was sold both on-site at the pop-up store and online, with buyers from countries fromJapan to Argentina, and from Austria to Australia. The merchandise not only became an additional revenue stream for the exhibition but also served as an effective promotional tool.
Charity auction
On the final day of the exhibition, we held a charity auction that raised 1,945 euros for the Orphans Feeding Foundation, a Dutch NGO that helps children in Ukraine.
What’s next? Artists Against the Kremlin on paper
The book Artists Against the Kremlin is in its final stages of production. It will feature a complete catalog of the artworks displayed at the exhibition, along with interviews with the artists, curatorial texts, and a lot of other exclusive content. Please order your copy here
What’s next? A world tour
We are in ongoing discussions with galleries and stakeholders worldwide to organize a global tour of Artists Against the Kremlin in 2025. The first follow-up exhibition is scheduled to take place in Berlin from September 27 to October 6 at the Iceberg Gallery
What’s next? See you in 2025!
All three partners - All Rights Reversed Gallery, De Balie Amsterdam Art Center and The Moscow Times - already agreed to make the next edition of the Artists against the Kremlin in Amsterdam in 2025.
Thank you for your interest and your support and see next year in Amsterdam and beyond!
Contacts
allrightsreversed.art@gmail.com
a.gubsky@themoscowtimes.com
eloise.kasius@debalie.nl