Yearly round-up 2024

2024 was a year to be proud of! With over 170,000 visitors, we broke our own records.

Above all, we pushed boundaries, told stories, inspired people, and expanded our societal impact. Through the exhibitions, public programs, and collaborations, we showed the world to Maastricht and Maastricht to the world. This success is thanks to the incredible artists, curators, and regional communities we had the privilege of working with, the dedication of our team, and the support of our partners, funds, and sponsors. Together, it happened.

2024: Successful Exhibitions and New Perspectives

We began the year with Shinkichi Tajiri: The Restless Wanderer, a personal exhibition showcasing the turbulent life of an extraordinary artist. This was followed by What Freedom Is To Me, an impressive tribute to freedom by video artist Isaac Julien. In June, we presented This is not the end of the road by Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, alongside the hopeful collection presentation Dream On.

The summer took us to Pinkpop, with the pop-up museum filled by Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke, and to Cultura Nova, with textile works by Mirga-Tas. In the autumn, we showcased the remarkable Marlies and Jo Eyck collection, the most significant former private collection in Limburg. We closed the year with Truly Wicked: The Seven Deadly Sins visualised, an exhibition of old masterworks holding up a contemporary mirror to our visitors.

Bonnefanten Free Fridays: Art for Everyone

of The Bonnefanten Free Fridays were a resounding success once again, drawing an ever-growing number of visitors to the museum. Thanks to the massive efforts our partners, these evenings were always surprising and inspiring.

New Acquisitions and Collaborations

Our collection grew richer and deeper in 2024. Alongside independent acquisitions, we received generous private donations and made a joint purchase with the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Centraal Museum Utrecht. We are especially grateful to the Mondriaan Fund and the VriendenLoterij for their substantial financial support, enabling the expansion of our collection.

2025: A Year of New Discoveries

The new year promises many exciting presentations to look forward to. In the first months, you can still enjoy the ongoing exhibitions, including Truly Wicked (until January 12), Małgorzata Mirga-Tas’s solo presentation (until February 16), and the Eyck Collection (until May 4).

Starting January 7, we proudly present Wael Shawky’s Drama 1882 for the first time in the Netherlands, a striking recent acquisition that dazzled audiences at the Venice Biennale. February will bring Posters for the Planet, a powerful call to climate action. In April, we’ll celebrate Museumnacht Maastricht, an evening full of art and experiences.

May marks a special milestone: 30 years of the Aldo Rossi building and 25 years of the Céramique district. Simultaneously, we’ll open the first retrospective of Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses, a reflection on the relationship between humans, nature, and ecology, enhanced by an educational garden on our forecourt.

The summer will feature a major solo exhibition by Mounira Al Solh, who represented Lebanon at the Venice Biennale last year. Our pop-up museum will return to festivals like Pinkpop and Cultura Nova. In the fall, we will unveil a new collection exhibition full of surprises.

Proud, Yet Mindful of the World

While we celebrate our success, we remain acutely aware of the suffering and injustice in other parts of the world. Art offers solace, broadens perspectives, and inspires change. Let us continue striving for a better world together, with open minds and open hearts.

Thank you and Looking Ahead

On behalf of the entire Bonnefanten team: thank you for your visits, support, and enthusiasm. We wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to an inspiring 2025. See you in the new year!

Stijn Huijts, General and Artistic Director
Peggy van Sebillen, Deputy Director

Header images:
(1) Isaac Julien, Freedom / Diasporic Dream-Space No. 1 (Once Again...Statues Never Die), 2022, inkjet print on Canson Platine Fibre Rag. © Isaac Julien. Courtesy the artist, Galerie Ron Mandos and Victoria Miro
(2) Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, Out of Egypt, 2024, textile and acryl on canvas, 300 x 225 cm. Photo: Bartek Solik. Courtesy of the Artist, Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warschau, Frith Street Gallery, Londen and Karma International, Zürich.