The Society of Friends of the Frans Hals Museum | De Hallen Haarlem celebrated its silver jubilee. As of 16 September 2012 this festive occasion was marked by exhibitions, an auction and a special publication: a limited edition portfolio with works by ten well-known photographers.
Since 1987 the Friends have been supporting the acquisitions of old masters and contemporary art, restorations, lectures and publications. With its 1800 members the society is one of the largest and most active societies of museumfriends in the Netherlands and a welcome asset in these dire times of cuts to the cultural sector!

The Friends initiated the exhibition Masquerade by asking artists, connected to the museum, to create a celebratory mask. Contributors are painters Philip Akkerman, Uwe Henneken, Jonathan Meese and Marc Mulders, photographers Roger Ballen, Leo Divendal and Hellen van Meene, sculptors Adam Colton and Sjoerd Buisman, designers Babs Haenen and Hilde Foks, illustrator Thé Tjong-Khing and animation filmmaker Gerrit van Dijk.

Closing act of the exhibition was the auction of the masks on 18 November at 5:30 p.m., conducted by Jop Ubbens, Chairman and Chief Auctioneer, Christie’s Amsterdam. The proceeds will be used for the acquisition of a contemporary work of art for the collection of De Hallen Haarlem.