Our position in the cultural field is unique. Melly (formerly Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art) is an alternative to the more traditional museums of modern and contemporary art, to artists’ initiatives and to commercial galleries. Our dynamic team enables our institution to be current, innovative, experimental and flexible. The center often serves as a springboard to a professional career for many beginning curators, critics, scholars and educators. For over 20 years Melly has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential and prestigious exhibition spaces where there is a place for innovation and quality.
The institution puts great emphasis on creating meaningful partnerships in Rotterdam and on national and international levels. This is because collaboration enhances knowledge, resources, strength and distribution capabilities and stimulates inspiration and innovation.
Through collaborations with emerging and established artists, curators, scholars and the public at large, Melly has amassed an important and growing national and international network that is supported and sustained by the institute and the program. We are proud that the work of many now renowned contemporary artists found early exposure at Melly.
Reflection with and input from Melly’s public form the core of our programs. Through educational projects and public events, a wide and diverse audience is reached and engaged. Moreover, there is often much close contact with artists and other professionals within these programs so that the distance between audience and artists is short.