Thomas Berghuis

Background

About Thomas Berghuis

I am a curator, researcher, teacher and programmemaker with 25 years experience working with contemporary art and contemporary artists. I am currently working as programmemaker at De Thomas in Amsterdam and teacher at De Singel in Leiden, The Netherlands. As well as Chair of the Arts and Human Rights Foundation. I hold a PhD in Asian Art History from the University of Sydney, Australia; an Advanced Masters diploma from CNWS, School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies, part of IIAS (International Institute of Asian Studies), Leiden; and an MA in Chinese Language and Culture from Leiden University, The Netherlands. Following a career teaching and Asian and international art history, curatorial and museum studies at various universities and art colleges in Australia and the Netherlands, I now devote time outside my curatorial work to teaching in primary schools in my hometown Leiden. As a way to share his international work experiences with society and where it matters most, with severe shortages in primary and secondary school teachers in the Netherlands. I work additional hours in the evening completing my fourth degree, a BA in Teaching (PABO) at the Hogeschool Leiden, The Netherlands. I enjoy spending my free time with my family - including my son, who is playing professional basketball, and daughter who is learning fencing at a professional level. My hobbies include reading, playing and watching basketbal, gardening, cooking running and boating. I value honesty, trust, freedom of expression, innovation and healthy doses of critical intellectual inquiries in art. I practice discursive curating and research, working with artists and audiences in creating indepth dialogues and curatorial exchanges, helping artists develop new works and conceiving their practices in unique contexts and spaces, and in support of decolonial and denational strategies through art and culture. I value clear communication, development and people sharing belief, trust and passion in contemporary art and artists. when working with others on curatorial projects.