FINANCE ABN AMRO art and culture sponsorship policy intensifies focus on equal opportunities for women

In the coming years, ABN AMRO will be focusing its art and culture-sector sponsorship policy on equal opportunities for women in the arts. To this end, the bank has launched a long-term alliance with WOMEN Inc., which will be extending its knowledge and expertise to cultural partners. The bank is also developing educational programmes and activities for children and young people in association with both existing and new partners to accelerate equal opportunities.

Last year, WOMEN Inc. and ABN AMRO jointly published a report mapping the current state of gender equality in the visual arts sector. Titled ‘A story still untold’ (Een nog onverteld verhaal), the report reveals there is still a large equality gap between men and women in the art world, as manifested for example in unconscious biases and sizeable disparities in earnings and representation.

“As a long-time sponsor and partner within the sport, social and art and culture sectors, we know sponsorship contributes to positive change and can be an accelerating factor”, said Sander Bestevaar, head of Partnerships, Events and Foundations at ABN AMRO. “We and our partners are committed to accelerating equal opportunities, including between men and women.”

ABN AMRO’s art and culture sponsorship policy therefore focuses particularly on equal opportunities for women in the arts and education. “Art is uniquely able to connect people and to show where we stand as a society and how far we’ve come. With this new approach, we want to help equalize opportunities for women in the arts in the broadest sense, from artists to museums and from traditional institutions to the street”, explained Bestevaar. For the bank, its sponsorship policy offers a means of connection. In 2021, ABN AMRO joined with WOMEN Inc., an organization that advocates for equal opportunities across sex and gender. The bank and its cultural partners look specifically for openings to create equality.

Aided by WOMEN Inc.’s knowledge and expertise, they are putting together a tailored plan for achieving these goals, for example through educational programmes and special exhibitions.

ABN AMRO new main partner of STRAAT Museum

One reflection of the bank’s fresh approach in its art and culture sponsorship portfolio is the addition of the STRAAT museum for street art and graffiti, of which ABN AMRO is the new main sponsor. During a joint kick-off event on 21 February, the partners opened Women in Street Art, an exhibition showcasing female role models in street art. Other shared focus areas within this alliance are education and sustainability. As well as new partnerships, the bank is also applying its new policy in existing collaborations.

About ABN AMRO sponsorship

ABN AMRO uses its sponsorships for the betterment of society, based on its purpose: ‘Banking for Better for Generations to come’. The bank takes its social responsibility seriously, and its commitment to the planet (sustainability) and people (equal opportunities for all) is demonstrated through various channels.

ABN AMRO aims to be an accelerator in its sponsorships by forging the right partnerships and setting concrete objectives for sustainability and equal opportunities, whether in sport, society or arts and culture.