Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is the winner of the 20th Rotterdam Marketing Award. The jury praised the Depot for its unique and daring character, which will be an inspiration for similar projects all over the world. Menno van Gorp gets the Marketing Award for Upcoming Talent went to and Mario Kadiks wins the oeuvre prize.
The Rotterdam Marketing Awards are awarded each year. To individuals or organisations who have made a significant contribution to the city’s image and promotion. Mostly in a nurturing and pioneering manner. The winners have contributed to the finding of innovative solutions for social issues. Enhancing the image of the city and promoting Rotterdam at home and abroad as a resilient and future-proof city.
There was no presentation of the awards in 2020 due to the corona virus, but the Jury decided to resume their routine this year, in order to recognise those citizens of Rotterdam who had managed, despite the prevailing circumstances, to highlight the city in a positive and distinctive fashion.
Mayor Aboutaleb declared: ‘Rotterdam is an incredibly versatile city, and today’s winners are a marvelous reflection of that, with each expressing the character of Rotterdam in their own way’.
The museal and cultural value that the Depot brings to the city has earned it the Rotterdam Marketing Award. The Jury praised the unique concept of opening up the museum collection by means of a publicly accessible depot. They added that the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum is at the forefront of a worldwide trend in the museum world to increase the overall accessibility of museum collections.
Upcoming talent and oeuvre prize
The Rotterdam Marketing Award for Upcoming Talent went to breakdancer Menno van Gorp. He is a top sportsman, artist and Rotterdam resident with a warm social heart. As a triple world champion, he channels his fame to inspire and stimulate the youth of Rotterdam. In April 2021, the ambassador for the Rotterdam Cultural Youth Fund opened the OTB movement, an initiative to nurture urban sports for the benefit of young people in the Southern part of the city.
Once every five years, the Jury awards a third prize. This oeuvre prize was presented to Mario Kadiks. Last year he resigned as director of the Marathon Rotterdam after 35 years. Under his inspiring leadership, the marathon developed from an ailing event with just 265 participants into an internationally renowned competition. The Jury praised Kadiks for the great impact that he has had on the international sporting image of Rotterdam.
Cover: Ossip van Duivenbode
