1nergiek
Annabelle Birnie has been director of H’ART Museum on the Amstel and De Nieuwe Kerk on the Dam in Amsterdam since 2021. Before that, she was director of the Drents Museum, the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, and worked as director of Sponsorship, Events and Art Management at ING.
H’ART Museum, formerly Hermitage Amsterdam, is an international museum where artworks and stories from around the world are brought together in unique exhibitions. The same applies to De Nieuwe Kerk, although both museums are also very different.
Photography: Anna Timmer
“It is wonderful to be able to do this. Every day I happily fulfill my mission. There are so many appealing challenges that come my way on my cultural path. But that also applies logistically”.
“De Nieuwe Kerk, an iconic monument and symbol of our national history, faces a critical challenge. Eight columns of the church are in urgent need of foundation repair. This work will start in mid-July 2024 and will be completed in 2025. By the way, this will generate a lot of cleaning work”.
“When you reinforce a foundation, of course an incredible amount of dust is released. We naturally wrap a number of valuable objects such as the largest organ in the Netherlands, a special choir screen and a beautiful pulpit extra carefully because they are so fragile. And yes, during the re-founding, 1nergiek naturally comes into the picture as well because De Nieuwe Kerk will remain open to visitors”.
“It is very nice how we work together with 1nergiek. On average, five, sometimes six cleaners are around per day. This happens seven days a week, because we are open on weekends too. We have a number of regular cleaning teams that have experience with the environment. That is very important, because dealing with spaces where art is hanging is something specific. After all, we are a museum where the most beautiful works of art in the world can be seen”.
“Indeed, it is more than a trade in itself. In addition to the high-quality cleaning, safety, experience and customer-friendliness play a major role. These are important conditions that we as a museum want and must meet. Everyone who works with us, in whatever role, contributes to this. In that respect too, the cleaners of 1nergiek do an excellent job. They are part of our organization”.
“I think it is important and nice to see that our fellow cleaners enjoy working with us. I like to have a chat and I am happy when I hear laughter in the hallways. It is important to notice that people enjoy working here. After all, that also contributes to a positive visitor and public experience. Something that is highly valued by us. A good atmosphere can eventually be radiated. The cleaners also make an important contribution to this through their attitude and behavior. But this also applies to our colleagues in security, hospitality, the shop, behind the cash register and also management”.
“That’s right. The cleaners of 1nergiek are always invited to our staff meetings. After all, we do it all together. In this way, you also get to know each other informally. In fact, at some point you also know some of their family members because they, for example, visit the museum with their (grand)children. I think that’s important and I gladly open our doors for this”.
“Recently I walked through the museum with the Minister of Culture, where we ran into Anna from 1nergiek. Perhaps she thought, ‘now I should step aside for a moment’, but I didn’t want that and introduced her to the minister. Again, we maintain the museum in good condition together. The minister and Anna spoke with each other. That was perhaps one of the nicest moments of the visit”.
“Yes, definitely! For example, we participate in the Museum Night. Then many young people come to the museum, but they have a different approach than the regular museum visitor. Young people see it as a party, which creates a kind of hospitality event. For the cleaners this is very tough, because they have to respond to it. It involves large groups that like to have a drink. I really admire how the cleaners deal with this. They make sure we can open again the next day. As if nothing happened”.
“That is something that is no longer absent from our society, so certainly not in the cultural sector. You cannot work with all means in a museum. But I do not have to worry about the cleaning supplies used by the employees of 1nergiek, because I know they are sustainable and that they handle them carefully. 1nergiek simply has this perfectly in order”.
A clean environment starts with people who are involved, take responsibility and know what is needed. That is how we like to work together. Curious what 1nergiek can mean for your organization?
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