Stichting ROEM

What Stichting ROEM does

Stichting ROEM is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) established in 2017 and headquartered at Middelstegracht 89Y in Leiden, Netherlands. It operates as a multidisciplinary artist collective composed of 11 named makers spanning photography, writing, visual arts, graphic design, illustration, and engineering/product design, supported by 8 employees and an unremunerated board (Ruben Hazenbos as chair, Marcel van Schooten as board member, Marco Dijkxhoorn as treasurer). The collective's primary offering is the ROEM Foundation Collective, which provides young makers with a stable platform for personal development, collaborative project creation, and organized exhibitions, workshops, talks, and events. The organization also operates TROEF, a dedicated exhibition space in Leiden that serves as the physical venue for the collective's programming.

The underlying technology stack is minimal: ROEM operates as a community-driven creative organization rather than a technology company, with no proprietary technology, patents, APIs, or applications disclosed. The only notable digital infrastructure is an Instagram presence (@roemleiden) and a ticketing relationship via Chipta.com for events such as the Literair Festival Inktvis. Distribution is primarily through the owned TROEF space and partnerships with established Leiden cultural venues and events (De Nobel, Stadsgehoorzaal, Frontaal Podium, Hortus Botanicus, LIFF, ArtScienceWeek, Days of Art & Science, Peel Slowly and See).

Revenue mechanics are diversified across three streams: recurring cultural funding and grants (predominantly from Gemeente Leiden), ticketed event sales, and project-based commissioned creative work for external clients. The foundation applies the Governance Code Cultuur and endorses the Fair Practice Code and Code Diversiteit en Inclusie. Its primary customer segment is young emerging artists and makers seeking professional development; its audiences are local and regional cultural consumers in Leiden. The organization is actively operating, with a 2024 year report publicly available and an open call for additional board members to support strategic growth.

Name

Stichting ROEM

Legal name

Stichting ROEM

Website

https://roemleiden.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting ROEM is a Leiden-based Dutch non-profit foundation operating a multidisciplinary artist collective of 11 young makers, delivering exhibitions, workshops, and events through its TROEF space, funded by municipal grants, ticket sales, and commissioned projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Culture Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business Management & Accounting (Artists) (MPAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Artist collective services
• Cultural foundation
• Exhibition programming
• Creative workspace
• Arts development

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cultural funding and grants: ROEM receives funding through cultural grants and municipal support from Gemeente Leiden. The foundation operates as a non-profit organization with a board overseeing financial management.
2. Event and exhibition revenue: Revenue generated through ticket sales for events, festivals, and exhibitions including the Literair Festival Inktvis. The collective also undertakes commercial creative projects.
3. Project-based work: Commercial jobs and commissioned creative work from external clients and partners, providing income for the collective and its members.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Stichting ROEM runs a Leiden-based multidisciplinary artist collective that provides a stable platform for young makers in photography, writing, visual arts, graphic design, and illustration to develop professional careers through exhibitions, workshops, talks, and events. The collective operates its own exhibition space, TROEF, and collaborates with established cultural venues and festivals such as De Nobel, Stadsgehoorzaal, Frontaal Podium, the Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF), and ArtScienceWeek. The foundation receives institutional support from Gemeente Leiden and applies Dutch cultural governance codes in its operations.

Product overview

Stichting ROEM operates as a single unified collective offering rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. The core offering is the ROEM Foundation Collective, which provides a studio environment with exhibitions, workshops, talks, events, and occasional DJ sets. The collective's exhibition space TROEF is an extension of this offering, serving as the physical venue for showcasing work by collective members. The portfolio consists of these two named components: the collective community/platform and its physical exhibition space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ROEM Foundation Collective A multidisciplinary artist collective providing a stable platform where young creatives from photography, writing, visual arts, graphic design, and illustration work toward professional careers as makers, with opportunities for personal projects, collaborative exhibitions, and cross-disciplinary experimentation. Targeted at emerging young artists seeking a community and development infrastructure.
• TROEF Exhibition Space A physical exhibition space operated by the ROEM collective, serving as the venue for exhibitions, workshops, talks, and events organized by member makers and collaborators. Used by the collective and visiting creators in Leiden's cultural ecosystem.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• De NobelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeiden-based cultural venue. ROEM collaborates with De Nobel on exhibitions and events, positioning young makers within established cultural programming.
• Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual film festival in Leiden. ROEM collaborates with LIFF as part of its mission to support young makers and create meaningful cultural connections.
• Gemeente Leiden (Municipality of Leiden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government providing institutional support and funding for ROEM's cultural programming. Key partner for the foundation's local legitimacy and sustainability.
• Fronthaal PodiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural venue in Leiden. ROEM collaborates on events and programming, creating opportunities for young makers to engage with wider audiences.
• Hortus Botanicus LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBotanical garden in Leiden known for art-science programming. ROEM's 'Kennismakers' initiative focuses on cross-pollination between art and science, aligning with Hortus Botanicus's programming.
• ArtScienceWeekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual event combining art and science. ROEM participates as part of its cross-disciplinary maker development approach.
• StadsgehoorzaalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert hall and event venue in Leiden. Collaborates with ROEM on events and cultural programming featuring young makers.
• Days of Art & ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional event celebrating art and science. ROEM participates, supporting its cross-pollination between art and science initiatives.
• Peel Slowly and SeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival event. Marcel van Schooten, ROEM board member, is involved in organizing this festival, creating a direct connection between ROEM and the event.
• TROEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROEM operates TROEF as its exhibition space in Leiden, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and events. TROEF serves as the physical home for the collective's activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jan van Eyck Academie: Maastricht-based post-academic institute for research and production in art, design, and theory. Comparable in supporting emerging makers through studio practice and cross-disciplinary experimentation, but operates as a more established international research institute.
• Kunstpodium T: Tilburg-based platform presenting young and emerging visual artists through exhibitions, publications, and events. Mirrors ROEM's mission to accelerate young makers into the professional field via curated exposure in a regional Dutch context.
• Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten: Amsterdam-based two-year residency for emerging artists and theorists from across the world. Comparable to ROEM in its focus on developing young makers into professional practitioners, though with significantly larger funding, longer residency periods, and international intake.
• W139: Amsterdam artist-run contemporary art space founded in 1979, hosting exhibitions and events by emerging makers. Highly comparable in operating an artist-driven exhibition platform with an open studio ethos, but at a much longer-tenured Amsterdam institution.
• Casco Art Institute: Utrecht-based institute for collaborative artistic practice working across art, design, theory, and everyday life. Comparable to ROEM in supporting experimental, cross-disciplinary makers, though with a research- and project-driven programme rather than a studio collective model.
• VHDG: Leeuwarden-based artist-run space for contemporary visual art since 1980. Directly comparable as a grassroots artist-led initiative providing exhibition opportunities to makers in a regional Dutch city, sharing ROEM's open-studio community ethos.
• De Ateliers: Amsterdam-based post-academic residency programme for emerging artists that provides studio space, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities. Mirrors ROEM's model of supporting young makers on the cusp of professional careers, but at national scale with older maker cohort.
• P/////Palet: Amsterdam-based platform dedicated to supporting and presenting emerging visual artists. Directly comparable in its focus on launching young makers through exhibitions and a curated programme, though specializing in visual arts only.

Regional players

• Künstlerhaus Bethanien: Berlin-based international artist-in-residence programme operated by a cultural foundation. Comparable in operating an institutional artist-development platform with public programming and exhibitions, but serving a different geographic ecosystem.

Others

• Stichting Broedplaatsen Amsterdam: Amsterdam-based coordination body and funding intermediary for creative workspace ('broedplaatsen') across the city. Comparable ecosystem role to ROEM's Leiden municipal cultural relationships and broedplaats context (Marcel van Schooten chairs De Nieuwplaatz broedplaats), though operating at city-network scale rather than as a single collective.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/roemleiden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roemleiden

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting ROEM