ARTIS Natura Artis Magistra
Built ARTIS' planetary health programme from one producer's brief into a permanent theme that reached tens of thousands of visitors.
ARTIS is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, and much more than a zoo. It works as a cultural institution that asks visitors to think about the living world, with research, art and public programmes alongside the animals.
The planetary health work started in 2022 with the First European Planetary Health Congress, for researchers and decision-makers. It grew into Aardbewoners, a public programme that kept the expert track running alongside. Over those years the audience widened to scientists, policymakers, students, families and weekend visitors, all in the same building.
I designed the programme, ran a multi-day symposium and set the editorial line across the year. The 2024 edition reached over 30,000 visitors across nine days. Aardbewoners stayed at ARTIS after my role ended.