We view art not as a finished product, but as a process of research, experimentation, and development. Therefore, we offer artists space to create, try out, and adjust new work. In KEL-30, work is allowed to grow, change, or even fail. It is precisely this open process that we consider important. For us, exhibitions are not a definitive endpoint, but often a moment within a longer trajectory in which ideas become visible and conversations arise with the public, other artists, and curators.
The scale and character of the space make it possible to work on a large scale, spatially, and experimentally. Artists respond to the architecture, the light, the emptiness, the sound, and the movement of visitors. This results in presentations that are not only viewed but can be physically experienced. We encourage artists to think outside the box and take risks, regardless of whether they have just graduated or have been working in the art field for years.
KEL-30 brings together artists, curators, thinkers, and makers from various disciplines. We believe that interesting developments emerge when diverse perspectives meet. Therefore, we work with both young and experienced artists and also offer space to young curators to explore new forms of presentation and collaboration. Encounter and exchange are essential to us: projects often arise from conversations, shared questions, and long-term collaborations.
The context of De Biotoop plays an important role in this. Until 2011, this site was part of the Faculty of Biology at the University of Groningen. As a result, research and experimentation are historically linked to this place. Today, artists work here alongside artisans, designers, musicians, scientists, and makers from other disciplines. The proximity of the Hortus Botanicus and the green surroundings makes themes such as ecology, sustainability, and the relationship between humans and the environment a natural part of our thinking. Not as a fixed message, but as questions that can be explored through art.
In addition to exhibitions, we are building a long-term and international practice. We develop collaborations with artists and art venues within and outside the Netherlands and work on exchanges with partner initiatives in Europe. Reciprocity is central to this: we do not just want to show work, but to build sustainable relationships in which knowledge, experiences, and new perspectives are shared.
KEL-30 originated from the need for a place where experimentation is truly given space. A place where artists can create without having to immediately meet the expectations of the market or institution. Where process can be just as important as presentation. Where work can emerge that is not yet finished, not yet fixed, and perhaps fits nowhere else.
We see KEL-30 as a place in motion. A place where art evolves in relation to space, audience, and context. Not a closed institution, but an open workshop for ideas, research, and new connections.