The RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History has announced the implementation of a structural reorganization. Prompted by financial challenges and the necessity of ensuring long-term institutional viability, the RKD decided to make significant decisions and refocus on its core tasks. This restructuring follows the new strategic direction announced in May 2026, reflecting the organization’s transition from a research institute to a knowledge center with a forward-looking digital ambition. The new organizational structure officially took effect last month.

As a consequence of these developments, the position of Curator has been made redundant within the organization. A considerable number of former RKD curators have been reassigned to new roles as Collection Specialists. In these capacities, each specialist maintains a specific area of expertise and remains responsible for developing, preserving, and sharing knowledge regarding the collection.

The RKD continues to expand, enrich, and make its collections accessible both physically and digitally, and will accelerate the implementation of its digital ambitions in the coming years.

For further details, please consult the complete announcement and the dedicated Q&A section on the RKD website.