Preface

The Artiance Art Center and the Kennemerwaard Public Library entered a management merger on 1 January 2021. They function together as the ABC Huis. These two foundations have worked together on occasion in the past and where possible, we will strengthen that partnership even more. This has now resulted in the first collective long-term policy plan. The goals of both organizations are presented as one in this long-term policy plan for the ABC Huis 2023-2026.

The target to further increase the availability of art and culture education as stated in Artiance’s previous long-term policy plan has been included. In the ABC Huis we plan to develop the project-based initiatives which had already been implemented by Artiance even more. Quality artistic and cultural education will of course remain our focus. This means that we will continue to work with specialists who can guarantee professional quality and who are able to work with different target groups. We will also carry on developing our services in the social arena. The Kunstschool and the monthly television program Groots Alkmaar are a few great examples of what is available here. An area of concern in relation to art and cultural education is the financial stability of the range of services provided.

We plan to continue to strengthen our reputation the coming years as an expertise center specializing in education in the areas of language and 21st century skills according to the goals outlined in the previous long-term policy plan of the Kennemerwaard Public Library. We will also continue to search externally for activities which can be developed offsite with network and cooperative partners for the activities related to Participation and Self-Dependence. Activities within the Development and Fulfilment Program that target lifelong learning will be further developed. All this both with, for and by the people. The activities that the library organizes for the young will be further extended where possible. We continue the services in the library branches and will search for possibilities to develop them even further.

Preparing this long-term policy plan was an exciting joint effort. We appointed a core group of directors and several advisors who set to work. Various topics were discussed, and on each occasion with input and feedback from the colleagues in the organizations. This has resulted in a broad outline of our policy.

It is now up to the teams to provide further content to this basis, not only within the ABC Huis, but also especially with, for and by the residents in our work area.

Erna Winters, Director/Manager ABC Huis