Organisation

Since its first edition, in 2003, the Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) has become an important international platform for current developments in architecture, especially urban design. 

The IABR has a two-tiered governance structure, including a Board of Supervisors and a Management Team. The Board of Supervisors has an supervising role and delegates the management of the organization to the Management Team. The role of the Management Team, in particular the president, is to conceive, develop, and implement strategic plans with due regard for available resources and time. The Management Team makes all decisions regarding policy and strategy, manages the Ateliers, is responsible for raising grants and revenue, and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. 

Upon the recommendation of the Management Team and in consultation with the Board of Supervisors, the Management Team appoints a curator or curator team for each edition. The curator conducts research to develop and complement the theme proposed by the Management Team into a concrete plan for the main exhibition and ancillary public programs. The curator then provides input to the organization as it implements the plans. 

IABR subscribes to the Governance Code Culture, The Fair Practice Code and the Diversity & Inclusion Code.

Board IABR
Saskia van Stein (General and Artistic Director)

Supervisory Board
Medy van der Laan (Chairperson)
Kitty van Dongen (Treasurer)
Allard Castelein
Yvette Govaart

Confidential advisors and code of conduct

IABR is committed to providing an enjoyable experience for everyone, regardless of sex, gender identity and gender expression, age, sexual orientation, ability or disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, or technological choices. The IABR is committed to providing a safe environment for all visitors, participants, and its own staff, both on-site and online. Therefore, we ask that all participants, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers abide by the following Code of conduct. 

Together, we are responsible for making the IABR a pleasant place for all of us to work and spend time. We invite you to take an active role in making and keeping the IABR as accessible, safe, and comfortable as possible, both in the office, at temporary venues (exhibits and events), and online. Interact with each other in a patient, caring, and respectful manner. Put yourself in the position of others and have an eye for their (lived) experiences and ideas.  

Intervene, speak up or contact a staff member:  
· If comments are made, conversations are held or presentations are made that relate in an irrelevant, unwelcome, or offensive way to background, family status, sex, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, native language, age, ability or disability, race and/or ethnicity, country of birth, socioeconomic status, technological choices, religion, geographic location, or any other dimension of diversity;
· If you witness harassment, stalking, inappropriate physical contact and unwelcome sexual attention, or the taking of photographs or audio or video recordings without consent; 
· If someone uses, or threatens to use, verbal, physical, or other violence against another person;
· If anyone incites violence against any individual or group. 

If you are being harassed, witness someone else being harassed, or feel unsafe in any way, please contact an IABR staff member (recognizable during on-site events by clothing and/or badge with the IABR logo). 

Staff will help participants contact venue security or local police if necessary, provide escorts or otherwise ensure that people can feel safe for the duration of the conference/event. 

We expect all visitors, participants, and staff to abide by these rules at all exhibition, conference, event and/or workshop venues, and during related social events. 

If the Code of conduct is not followed: 
If a participant in or attendee at an activity engages in harassing, manipulative, or otherwise impermissible behavior, staff may take such action as it thinks necessary, including warning the offender or removing them from the IABR space or the digital environment of an activity without refund of any entry fee. Attendees who are asked to stop impermissible behavior must comply at once. 

Do not hesitate to contact another staff member if you become aware that an IABR employee is engaging in impermissible behavior. Appropriate action will be taken. 

In the event that there is a need for a discussion about an incident related to the organization of the IABR or another concern related to the work at the IABR, this can be done with our internal confidential counselor Yvette Govaarts. You can contact her via yvette@bigpicturecompany.nl.

If there is a need to discuss an incident within the IABR organization or any other concern or complaint related to work at the IABR with an objective party, you can contact an external confidential advisor through Bezemer & Schubad: Ernst-Jan Schubad. He can be reached at e.j.schubad@bezemer-schubad.nl.

This present Code of conduct is an evolving document. The IABR is a learning organization and welcomes critical comments, additions and suggestions about this document and our practices. If you feel something is missing or needs clarification or improvement, please contact us at info@iabr.nl and mention ‘Code of Conduct / Gedragscode’.  

In creating this Code of conduct, we were inspired by the Code of Conduct of Het Nieuwe Instituut, which was in turn inspired by the Afrotech Fest Code of Conduct that was developed using resources and guidelines by Geek Feminism, CSSConf and JSConf, the Conference Code of Conduct, and the XOXO Community Code of Conduct. Another source of inspiration for the aforementioned Code of Conduct was the Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines. 

Supervisory Board

  • Medy van der Laan
    Photo: Margo de Wijk

    Medy van der Laan

    Chairperson

    Photo: Margo de Wijk

  • Kitty van Dongen
    Photo: Margo van Wijk

    Kitty van Dongen

    Treasurer

  • Allard Castelein
    Photo: Margo de Wijk

    Allard Castelein

    Photo: Margo de Wijk

  • Yvette Govaart
    Photo: Margo de Wijk

    Yvette Govaart