The Frans Hals Museum and Amsterdam Museum have been nominated by the province of Noord-Holland to receive an additional subsidy of € 250,000 annually from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science for a period of four years. Together we submitted a plan to link 17th century portraits from the collections to the stories and faces of the current residents of Haarlem, Amsterdam and the other municipalities in Noord-Holland. In this way we want to add a new chapter to history. Each province may nominate one project to the ministry.

Whereas the portrait history of the 17th century focuses on the well-to-do middle class and the elite, this new chapter will be characterised by a broadness in social class, age, gender and cultural background. We want to involve different communities in the preparation and implementation of the plan. For example, by seeking collaboration with various other North Holland museums, community centers, care institutions and schools.

The process will be concluded in 2024 with an exciting duo exhibition in both museums, combining historical portraits with contemporary co-creation portraits. A conference is also planned in which knowledge is shared with colleagues from the museum sector. In September it will be announced whether the project can continue indefinitely.