Presentation: Open Archief 4.0

Join us for the finale of Open Archief 4.0, featuring presentations by 2025/2026 artists‐in‐residence mo Futures and Wassila Abboud on the findings and insights from their research, and the launch of mo’s publication.

Open Archief is a multifaceted, collaborative project that explores the potentials of making archival material accessible to artists for creative reuse.

mo Futures and Wassila Abboud used the (open) digital collections and extended network of the partner organisations (Beeld & Geluid, IISG, Nieuwe Instituut and Framer Framed), to create their own publication – becoming available both in physical and digital form – in which their artistic research and the creative process are central.

Programme

During the launch, both residents will present their findings & insights, and reflect on contemporary urgencies with their archival research. Followed by a round table conversation in which both residents discuss the residency format of Open Archief and reflect on the role of artists and researchers within communities that engage with or activate (Dutch) heritage collections and archival institutions.

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About

mo Futures expanded their research into Black Queer & Trans histories, navigating throughout and beyond the many gapswithin institutional archives and moving towards in-depth interviews and critical fabulation. Gathering and creating a richness of stories & practises that allows for an honourable and necessary expansion of these histories.

Wassila Abboud has devoted her time as a resident to transcribing, translating and reactivating the rare twenty-minute recording of the lecture by Mahdi Amel titled ‘Culture and Revolution’, recorded in 1987 in Tripoli, Lebanon. And by doing so, using this archival material, not as a reflection of a period in history but instead of a political condition (‘of permanent revolution’) that is unresolved.

Both publications* follow the format of the book Open Archief, Artistic Reuse of Archives, forming the next instalment in a series of unique artistic methodologies that can be used by both artists and archival institutions alike to activate and disclose archival collections and (shared) histories.

Wassila Abboud’s research has been extended and she will present her final work in June. Instead, Wassila will use this time to discuss the process of thinking through an archive that is being lived today, whereby US Imperialism and Israeli expansionisms continue to be a condition of daily life in Lebanon.

Open Archief

Open Archief is made possible by the support of its founding members Beeld & Geluid and Nieuwe Instituut, as well as the ongoing support of the International Institute of Social History and Framer Framed. We also want to thank the many artists, researchers, designers, community members and heritage professionals that have devoted their time and energy to uphold and co-create every output of the project. To learn more about the project, visit www.openarchief.com.