Besides the artist’s archive and oeuvre, the (former) studio and/or home are also part of their artistic legacy. These are often the places where the works, archive and library are found, along with the artist’s working materials used for the artistic practice.
When establishing an estate, it is recommended to consider this component of the artistic legacy as well, and how you might include it in your activities. That way, you will be able to investigate whether it is possible to keep the (former) home and/or studio. The artist may have already taken certain steps towards this during their lifetime, for example by means of a donation. There are various possibilities for doing this, but it is important always to obtain advice from your notary.
See the ‘Legal structure’ page for more information.
If it turns out not to be possible to keep the studio and/or home, however, it is recommended to make a thorough survey of these places. This can be done with an extensive series of photos, for example, in which you photograph the different rooms linked to the artistic practice in detail so that you can always refer to them later. Take photos from different perspectives to document the material thoroughly. Another possibility is to make a 360° scan of the room. The advantage of such a scan is that you can add information later, for example about other components of the artistic legacy: the archive, oeuvre and intellectual legacy.
By documenting these spaces, you offer curious eyes the opportunity to glimpse the specific historical setting of the studio, workspace or archive. All this contributes to a wider knowledge of the artist and their practice, which is relevant both to other artists and to curators, conservators, galleries and collectors.
Preserving and managing the (former) studio and/or home also presents possibilities for giving further access to the artistic legacy. For example, you might participate in various events, locally or otherwise, and open up these spaces to the general public.
Be sure to consult the ‘Making your legacy accessible’ page for more information.
Archive Fik van Gestel. Photo: CKV (2024).
Interested to read more? Go to the next topic: Intellectual Legacy.