Ranti Tjan has been appointed director of the Royal Academy of Art as of 1 June 2022. He succeeds Henk van der Meulen, who will stay on as director of the Royal Conservatoire and Chairman of the Executive Board.
Ranti Tjan (1964) studied Political Science and Art History at the University of Amsterdam and has been director of the European Ceramic Workcentre in Oisterwijk since 2010. In his position as director of the EKWC, he rescued this post-academic institution after the subsidy from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science was discontinued in 2013. Following a move in 2015 from Den Bosch to Oisterwijk, the EKWC doubled in size, focusing on internationalisation, facilities for the general public and higher education. From 2016 onwards, the EKWC again obtained funding from the Ministry, as well as from the province of North Brabant, and from 2021 onwards this ministerial subsidy has been increased by 70 percent.
The EKWC is known for its dozens of artists and designers from the Netherlands and abroad who are able to enhance their creativity with ceramics in a well-equipped environment. Tjan has positioned the EKWC internationally as the best residency in the world and is much in demand as curator, jury member and consultant in South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and England.
As a leader who is skilled in bringing people together, Tjan will give direction to the transition of the Royal Academy of Art. Under his leadership, the further development of the educational vision and programmes of the KABK, the learning and working climate, and the focus on inclusiveness within the organisation, will continue.