About us

Nieuw Charlois is the platform for art and design in Rotterdam Oud Charlois. This artist initiative, run by visual artists Nicole Driessens and Ivo van den Baar, was founded in 2021 at Wolphaertsbocht 81 and has been located in the C3 Studios building, Huismanstraat 30 since January 2025.

Nieuw Charlois consists of an exhibition/project space of 9 x 11 meters where work is developed, shown and sold by (mainly) Rotterdam artists and designers, many of whom have a studio in Oud Charlois. Many artists from Charlois operate nationally and internationally, but their work is only occasionally visible locally, due to a lack of art venues in the area.

Over the past thirty years, Oud Charlois has developed its own strength, which was created by the presence of artists from Rotterdam and the rest of the world and their connection with the places and the residents. Through their presence and their activities, the artists have given the area a value that cannot be found anywhere else in Europe.

Nieuw Charlois gives artists the opportunity to show new work or develop new work in the exhibition space. During openings, artist talks are organized, sometimes led by curators, critics or historians, to engage in conversations with the public. One of the goals of Nieuw Charlois is to connect artists with the larger art world of curators, galleries and museums, so that their careers can develop.

A special project within the program is “Summer Guest” in which an artist can work in Nieuw Charlois for two months (July and August) with an exhibition in the third month (September), during the season opening weekend ACRXL in September. Exchanges with foreign artists also take place in this summer program.

Nieuw Charlois is supported by the Municipality of Rotterdam with a biennial period subsidy and by Art Office Rotterdam with practical contributions for Rotterdam artists.