Janneke van der Wijk - Speaker

To impact an audience – transforming arts engagement

Directeur Publiek Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Abstract:

In this presentation, van der Wijk reveals her pioneering approach to audience development at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, where she now leads audience strategy for one of Europe's premier cultural institutions. Drawing from her success transforming the ELJA Foundation into a catalyst for 150+ cultural programs and her 11-year leadership of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she offers practical frameworks for maximizing institutional relevance and reach. Van der Wijk demonstrates how museums can create meaningful connections with diverse audiences while maintaining artistic excellence, providing attendees with actionable strategies for amplifying their organizations' cultural and social impact.

About Janneke van der Wijk:

Janneke van der Wijk is Director of Public at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. With a background in historical pedagogy from the University of Amsterdam, she has built a career at the intersection of arts, education, and public engagement.

Before joining the Rijksmuseum, she served as Director of the ELJA Foundation, where she developed it into an innovative and dynamic fund supporting over 150 cultural initiatives across the Netherlands and the Caribbean. She previously led the Conservatorium van Amsterdam for over a decade, one of Europe’s leading music institutions, and was Managing Director of the Music Center the Netherlands, the national and international sector body for music.

Janneke also contributes her expertise as a board member of the Museumvereniging, Museumkaart Foundation, ELJA Foundation, and the Prinsengrachtconcert, and she serves as director of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities in Haarlem. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to access, inclusion, and cultural participation.

🎟 Join us at CTA Amsterdam 2025
📅 17–19 June, 2025