The Emmen Night Watch is threatened in its existence. The current foundation board thinks it has had enough after more than six years. They would prefer to see others take over the reins, but successors have not yet presented themselves. As a result, the foundation’s continued existence is threatened.
The Emmen Night Watch was created in December 2017. A group of between thirty and forty amateur painters worked for three years on a full-size copy of Rembrandt’s world-famous painting The Night Watch. The work was completed in 2020 in the former savannah stable in the Rensenpark, the base of the foundation.
After completing that monster job, work was done on a series of self-portraits by Vincent van Gogh and the canvas The Legend of Rembrandt. The idea behind the last project was to realize a canvas by Rembrandt that was reportedly never completed.
It looks like this is the last work of the Emmen Night Watch, according to board member Fokke Wester. “Within the group of volunteers and our personal circle, we have been looking for people who want to take over. But nothing has come of it. It is somewhat coming to an end.” In addition, the number of volunteers has also decreased.
The foundation could once count on the efforts of seventy to eighty volunteers, but that number has now been halved. Wester: “Corona has also contributed to this to a certain extent.”
In the meantime, the board remains hopeful about new blood. Especially Wester, who was involved in the project from the start. “We would of course like to see the foundation continue as usual. Personally, it also feels a bit like my baby. It would be nice if someone wanted to take care of it.”
The 50PLUS faction drew attention to the foundation on Thursday. The party asked, among other things, whether all works could be placed elsewhere with the help of the municipality. At least, if the foundation ceases to exist.
Councilor Dewy Leal said he had a conversation with the board in December. Something she will do again. “We want to continue to see whether we can perhaps find a place for all the canvases through public campaigns.”