Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam is the perfect place for art lovers with its rich history and the presence of original artworks. In 2022, The Grand joined forces with the art world to initiate the unique Artists in Residence at The Grand project.
The monumental building that houses the five-star luxury hotel has a long history when it comes to art. Famous artists have contributed to both the exterior of the building - the imposing fa-çade - and the interior. To illustrate, artists Hildo Krop, Chris Lebeau, Willem Penaat, Joseph Mendes de Costa, John Raedecker, Karel Appel and Johan Thorn Prikker created beautiful art pieces that are showcased at The Grand. Due to the rich art history of the Grand, writer and journalist Ivo Weyel, the initiator of the Artists in Residence project, decided to approach The Grand in the summer of 2020 to realize the project. To support the art world, that was facing difficulties due to COVID-19, The Grand welcomed a variety of artists for 52 weeks to stay for a week in the specially designed Artists in Residence Suite. In exchange for a stay at the Artists in Residence Suite, the artists donated the items they worked on during their stay. Many artists used The Grand and its history as inspiration.
The proceeds of the Artists in Residence project are donated to the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. The Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds aims to encourage inspiration, purpose, and social interconnection for everyone in the Netherlands by investing in cultural projects together with its partners. The Cultuurfonds supports and helps realize projects of cultural organizations and artists by raising funds and handing out awards for outstanding work.