these are no more than normal work related relationships’. Achim Könneke explains that networks have to happen by coincidence; suddenly having the same interests. ‘Networks need to move freely, and connect coincidently’, he says. Breda should thrive to connect to a non-hierarchical network in which they can move freely. From talking to Veronique van Duuren, the policy officer for culture of the municipality of Breda: ‘it might be too early for Breda to say it is networked internationally’. She says: ‘the institutions have networks but these are not yet formalised and this is a process that takes time’. Another pitfall in networking explains Achim Könneke, is that cultural departments have the international networks instead of having the cultural organisations guide it. He believes that a city that has a partnership with another city based on contracts slow a network to flourish and sprawl.
3. Strengths to Strategy Breda seems to have a good environment for businesses as according to Arend Hardoff sometimes companies that wanted to settle in Breda had to be refused. In terms of quality of life Breda does seem to do well as they expect the city to grow to 185.000 inhabitants in 2020, which means an increase of almost 15.000 people. Breda is also getting many day visitors and with Breda having the title: ‘Beste Binnenstad’ (best inner city) of the Netherlands only more are expected to arrive. Also for artists, Breda has an environment where there is enough demand for arts. Maurice Spapens who started his artist career at VAK Breda explains that everywhere in Europe it is hard for an artist to survive. And so it is in Breda, but on the whole he seems to have a positive perception of the arts market in Breda. The expected settlement of an international primary and secondary school to be opened in August 2010, Breda is expected to become more attractive for international companies. (GTE, 2009. This is to increase their attractiveness for artists to come to Breda. So for example with their families for longer than a year. Also for prospective settlers like smaller enterprises or young families with children this is an improvement to the climate and so the quality of life making it more tempting to settle.
6. The Visual Art City In the following paragraphs for Breda interesting networks will be discussed as well as potential networks. Interesting networks are different from the potential networks as there is no direct link with Breda, but there might be in the future when potential networks are established.
1. Interesting Networked Cities Freiburg has contacts with Lemberg in the Ukraine exchanging music and literature. With Isfahan in Iran they say to have a very exciting partnership, as Freiburg is the only German city having a partnership in Iran. Many interesting partnerships have been established as for example the theatre in Marienbad is continually cooperating with its Children and Youth theatre programme with Isfahan and also Teheran. The
partnership with Isfahan is perceived as very important, but with Matsuyama there are also regular projects. Magister Aufischer from the Cultural City Network explained about an exhibition project they did with cities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which they now perceive as part of their network. These are countries that have many restrictions to what can be exposed, but these artists might have valuable input to projects in Breda. The organisation of the Photo museum in Antwerp finds the BredaPhoto interesting and respects their approach. Wicher Meijer explains: ‘We have an excellent network in the whole of Belgium we can use in Breda’. He explains that the cooperation with Antwerp has helped them to improve the quality of the workshops of BredaPhoto.
2. Potential Cities for Establishing a Visual Art Network The cultural department of Freiburg speaks about the regional network with Switzerland and France which is actually Tri-national, but not considered as such. Within the network there is regular exchange and networking meetings take place within the cultural sector. The main door to the region is the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. From here all the partners of the project can be reached between 15 and 50 minutes; Basel and Base Land (Switzerland), Colmar and Mulhouse (France) and Freiburg (Germany). The city of Freiburg has an artist exchange network in fine arts with Basel Land, Basel Stadt and Weil am Rhein. The “Christoph Merians Stiftung” foundation in Basel has partner institutions all over the world: Rotterdam, Paris, New York, Johannisburg, Peking, Montreal, etc. Annually fifteen artists are being sent around the world, and vice versa the region is welcoming fifteen artists from all over the world for this exchange. Freiburg for example has one atelier that is then being used by the incoming artist, Basel owns own ateliers in Paris. Magister Aufischer says: ‘This does make it a changing international network, because partners are not fixed forever but ever changing.’ This network approach is interesting as in Breda more things could be done to have artist come from abroad and stay longer. On the one hand, Breda can learn from the cities, in terms of establishing and deepening the bonds in all directions. Internationally with Antwerp in Belgium, but also Rotterdam in the West, and for the European Capital of Culture candidacy of course with the B5. The model of starting a pool with all the surrounding cities for artist exchange could be an example, then again connecting with Freiburg and looking how they developed it and what their experience is being. Also from the past on Breda was always very active in the international context as to its strategic location and due to its connections with waterways it could maintain international trade contacts. This century old tradition has given Breda the title ‘international city’ which has influenced culture and still the people of Breda seem skilled in this area; it is in their blood. (Expeditie Breda) Strategy: Enhancement of Breda’s Networking Performance 43