Winter Seminar 2026 – The Salon Reinvented

On 30 January 2026, SALON – Society for the Arts of the Long Nineteenth Century (formerly ESNA) and the RKD will organise their annual Winter Seminar. This year, the seminar will focus entirely on the salons of the long nineteenth century. Join us and discover how this tradition of meeting, dialogue and joint reflection on art opens up new perspectives.

The salon as a starting point for the future

In the nineteenth century, the term ‘salon’ had various meanings. On the one hand, it referred to living room and social salons, where art, music and networking were central. On the other hand, it referred to official salons: exhibitions that shaped reputations, determined genres and stimulated – or, conversely, hindered – artistic innovation.

Despite these differences, salons fulfilled one shared function: providing a platform for dialogue and shared artistic experience. In short, the salon is a rich and multifaceted starting point for reflecting on how contemporary art organisations shape research, education, museum practices and public engagement.

Tickets

Would you like to participate in the Winter Seminar The Salon Reinvented? Tickets are available in our webshop.