Arti et Amicitiae

Arti et Amicitiae (lat .: For Art and Friendship) is a Dutch artist's society founded in 1839, and located on the Rokin in Amsterdam. The Society (also called Arti for short) has played a key role in the Netherlands art scene and in particular in the Amsterdam art schools. It was and is to this day a hub for artists and art lovers in the city of Amsterdam. It is a private institution which supports artists, maintains social networks and offers a pension fund. In recent times it has been one of the venues for the 17th edition of the Sonic Acts Festival. Arti et Amicitiae is also the name of the building. The complex was merged from two separate buildings and given a white neo-classical facade by J. H. Leliman in 1855. History and Structure In 1794 the last Dutch city painter's guild was dissolved during the French occupation by Napoleonic rule. The need for a common meeting place for artists became various clubs and drawing societies. In 1839 the Sociëtait Arti et Amicitiae was founded. A year later the building "Grand Salon Dupond", located in the center of Amsterdam at the Rokin 3, was acquired at an auction. It became the home of this young society. Its aim was to address a distinguished audience and to promote interest in art. Initially it was called Arti et Amicitiae – Sociëtait – Société des Beux on Rokin 3. Today it is called Maatschappij Arti et Amicitiae, or just "Arti". Today the house is assigned the number 112.