Zippora Elders appointed General & Artistic Director of Nederlands Fotomuseum

Elders, a leading international curator, will lead the museum’s strategic direction, vision and profile. She will serve on a dual collegial board alongside a Business Director, who will be appointed at a later stage.

Elders brings an artistic vision grounded in empathetic and inclusive leadership, with a sharp understanding of how cultural institutions operate, from within their local context to their international reputation. Her forward-looking and agenda-setting approach aligns closely with the museum’s deliberate position, in which photography and the image are viewed at the intersection of art, technology, media and society, in the Netherlands and internationally.

Wanda van Kerkvoorden, Chair of the Supervisory Board, said: “Zippora is a figurehead of a new generation that brings renewed leadership to the cultural sector. She combines a strong artistic and curatorial profile with an integrated vision of the museum as a socially relevant institution. With her ambition to work closely with the team and partners to further develop the museum artistically and in its programming, she will help strengthen both the museum’s and Dutch photography’s international presence. We look forward to welcoming her in April to our new home, the Santos warehouse in Rotterdam, and to supporting her and the team in realising that ambition.”

Elders currently serves as Senior Curator at the Van Abbemuseum. Her previous roles include: Head of Curatorial Department and Outreach at Gropius Bau in Berlin, Co-Curator of Sonsbeek 20 → 24, Director of Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen and Curator at Foam. She studied Art History and Heritage Studies, specialisation Museum Curator, at the University of Amsterdam and the VU University. She has held advisory and board roles within the cultural sector and has consistently promoted the development of a robust and inclusive cultural environment.

Elders has worked on more than seventy exhibitions alongside numerous artists, photographers and makers. Elders to focus on overarching positioning and artistic vision Elders comments that she looks forward to starting in April: “Our heritage is the foundation of our culture, and culture keeps people creative, informed and connected. Photography sparks curiosity, invites us to look more closely, and encourages us to reflect on reality and engage in conversation. The museum and photography stand firmly within the world and within contemporary society. We all shape the future.” She also expresses her enthusiasm for the museum’s next chapter: “The establishment of a remarkable museum has been made possible through the Santos building, an impressive collection, robust partnerships in Rotterdam, and the expertise of a dedicated team. It is an honour to be allowed to build on that foundation and help shape the next phase.”

The new Director will assume her role on 13 April. Her primary goals include acquiring an in-depth knowledge of the organisation and defining a renewed positioning, strategy and artistic direction. Elders concludes: “I look forward to working with the team and this major collection. We will develop a dynamic, interdisciplinary programme in which retrospection and contemporary developments go hand in hand.” End of pres

Main Image: Zippora Elders Tahalele. Image Credit: Coco Olakunle