CASZ  – Contemporary Art Screen Zuidas  is a stage dedicated to providing moving images from the visual arts to the public domain of the newly developed urban setting of Zuidas. Located on the Zuidplein in Amsterdam, CASZ presents a high quality selection of visual arts, showing a large selection of video and film works on a 40 m2 LED screen. The accompanying soundtrack is available through mobile phone (free of charge) or - during special events and openings - through the screen’s own built-in sound system. 

CASZ  – Moving Images in Public Space  Eighteen hours a day from 6 a.m. to midnight, an international selection of film and video works from established and emerging artists from all over the world intermingles with the public life on Zuidplein, addressing a mixed crowd of managers and office workers, students and academics as well as other inhabitants and users of the Zuidas. In addition, the bars and restaurants located on the ground floor of the Zuidplein buildings offer the perfect setting for letting go of your everyday concerns and opening yourself up to the enriching images that will evoke new perceptions of the Zuidas surroundings.

CASZ - which premiered October 2007 - is an initiative by VIRTUEEL MUSEUM ZUIDAS in collaboration with SKOR (Foundation Art and Public Space). Independent curator Jan Schuijren (Amsterdam) was invited to develope the concept for a daily changing program, showing works by pioneer artists (such as Livinus and Jeep van der Bundt and Nan Hoover), acclaimed artists and emerging young talents - during the first year, more than 300 artists from all over the world will present their work in the public space of Zuidas.

Peter Bogers

 During the first year, more than 600 art works will be presented on CASZ, featuring re-occuring artist in focus sections with amongst others John Wood and Paul Harrison (UK),Michel François (B) and Guido van der Werve (NL), illustrations by renowned artist Dan Perjovschi, famous music videos by Persijn Broersen & Margit Lukács and Roel Wouters,  and video essays by for example The Speculative Archive.

Another returning format is the monthly transitory exhibition, showing one work by one artist every day from 4 to 5 p.m., four weeks in a row (next up: the prizewinning Guido van der Werve with Nummer Acht - Everything is going to be alright) - and many more special formats and screenings to be announced.

Part of the program is being realised in close collaboration with international organisations and initiatives such as park4dtv, NIMK, VISUAL FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS andTHEONEMINUTES, Amsterdam, IMPAKT, Utrecht, ARGOS, Brussels, TANK.TV, London andLOOP-POOL, Cologne (more collaborations t.b.a. shortly). Additionally CASZ will function as a venue to cultural and art events such as the Holland Festival and many others.

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CASZ - location
Amsterdam’s Zuidas (South-axis) is a recently developed district that combines professional and residential facilities at a strategically chosen location of the city: in between Amsterdam’s city centre and Schiphol airport. High-tech office complexes, convenient residential areas and cultural services are currently being developed around Zuidplein, the heart of the Zuidas district, which is located at a stone’s throw from the inner city. All means of transport converge in Zuidas, which links a high-speed train to subways, buses and a new fast service to Schiphol Airport. There are also underground car parks and bike parking facilities. In addition to the people who work in the nearby office buildings, over a thousand families have relocated to Zuidas. This number is expected to increase to nine thousand over the next four years.

CASZ - a short history
The LED screen originated from the concept ‘Het kunstwerk als podium’ (The art work as stage), a project that was developed in 2003 for the Zuidplein by Tom van Gestel (SKOR) and Henk de Vroom (Virtueel Museum Zuidas). They departed from their original idea of a static work of public art and, instead, decided to conceive of the art work as a stage unto itself.

The Zuidplein is located in the centre of the Zuidas and functions both as a meeting place and an intersection where people cross paths on their way to and from work or meetings. One of the Zuidas’ ambitions is to connect its business activities with more cultural offerings. From the outset of the project the aim has been to broadcast a provocative program that will attract local, national and international interest with the help of state-of-the-art LED technology. The program is innovative in nature and its content is made up of 80% art and, starting early 2008, 20% announcements and commercials. A new curator will be responsible for each new season of programming. The project took four years to complete due to extensive research in the areas of technology, feasibility and financing; negotiations with the display suppliers, cultural organizations and artists; calls for EU tenders, construction permits, decision-making procedures and final approvals.