Opening Remarks and Presentation: Mrs. Linda Grandia, Co-founder of the LAKMA, began the meeting at 19:30, with the following agenda:

• Speech: Importance of having a Latin American Museum in the Netherlands Mr. Francisco José LLoreda Mera, Ambassador of Colombia in the Netherlands
  

• Introduction of the Gausachs Foundation Mr. Francisco Gausachs, Managing Director of the Gausachs Foundation
  
  

• Speach: Support of the LAKMA initiative for Amersfoort Alderman Mr. Arien Kruyt, Municipality of Amersfoort
  
  

• Presentation: Strategy of the Latin Art Museum Dr. Paul van Royen, Director of project office Gideon, Interim management and recommendation in the culture sector
  
  

• Presentation: The building structure and history Ir. Marcel E. Loosen MRE, Executive director of ABC Vastgoed Groep
  
  

• Open Session. Open session in which members from the board of the LAKMA will be answering open-ended questions as well as brainstorming and engaging the participation of our contributors; Mr. Francisco Gausachs, Managing Director of the Gausachs Foundation.
  
  

As the activities of promoting Latin American Art evolved to the point of potentially creating a museum, we did more than just pinch our skin to find out if it was a dream. After an extensive research and the careful analysis of our advisers offered a clearer picture the possibilities were so realistic it was overwhelming.

With the thought in mind, that others can feel the same as we did; we asked one specific questions with the purpose of extracting concerns from the audience, we asked: Does anyone foresee a reason why the LAKMA is not feasible or unrealistic? Some tried that evening, but each attempt turned in to an aspect of the LAKMA that was positive.

As demonstrated above the LAKMA is an initiative, a positive truth that unfolds before us; as if, it was meant to be and occurring at the right time & place; as if, the rewarding responsibility belongs to our generation. The LAKMA initiative has rapidly turned in to a plan, a web site, and now a think group composed of professionals, politicians and diplomats with similar interest "Creating the Latin American Art Museum."




Forces that bring cohesiveness to the LAKMA as a group:

The Netherlands has over a thousand museums this is nearly the number of museums found in many countries of Europe. Sadly, not a single museum representing Latin American Art & Culture has ever been established.

Art museums in Europe
Art museums of the world

Humans are social by nature, we realized long ago that as a group we could satisfy social needs as well as accomplish tasks and gather resources more effectively. The LAKMA is a perfect example of a group seeking to satisfy social needs. The awareness of not having a museum of Latin American Art and the adverse effects this represents for the community has found a place in the collective consciousness of those with special interest in Latin American Culture revolving in to an important matter for the community.

The ripples of this effect can potentially affect many; those affected, are whom we refer to as our stakeholders. A review of Maslow’s hierarchy (Vecchio 2006) would reveal that, to some extent, nearly all needs can be satisfied by joining a group, this is why the stakeholders meeting constitute an essential part of the LAKMA. People with similar attitudes or complementary needs and abilities feel great attraction for this initiative.

Our stakeholders meetings usually take place in a cultural environment such as an educational institute, library or museum with a setting and agenda that encourages social interaction and participation. The positive effect of politicians and diplomats being present creates an atmosphere of networking, solidarity and support that is indispensable for the social cohesiveness of the group.

Like all groups we need leaders to inspire us. On this occasion we had the honor of receiving the inspiring and supporting words of two important leaders of the community.

The Ambassador of Colombia Mr. Francisco José LLoreda Mera, shared with us his profound relationship with art and what it meant for him during the most difficult part of his life, his sincere words produced very human feelings in our hearts bringing us all closer together as a group.

The Embassy of Colombia is head office of cultural affairs of Latin American Embassies in the Netherlands; position of great importance, considering the diplomatic and political significance of The Hague amongst other embassies in Europe.

The Alderman of the City of Amersfoort Mr. Arien Kruyt, put into words his knowledge of Latin American Culture and conveyed how many others of his generation, first got acquainted with Latin American art through literature, found in a library such as the one we held this event, this was the reason why he recommended the library of the city to hold this meeting. This acceptance of our culture by the wethouder, brought us closer as a group, regardless of the differences in culture.


Listed bellow; are contributions and comments of the audience, reacting to the question: Can anyone mention a reason why the LAKMA is not possible or unrealistic?

"Private Latin American collections, museums and foundations alike benefit from touring in Europe, this is because it is perceived as a prestige and thus the value of their collection increases. The LAKMA would be the first Latin Art Museum in Europe and therefore, will have many proposals and opportunities deriving from this trend"


"The expositions do not have to remain in Amersfoort. After the LAKMA art collections can be circulated out of the Netherlands, the activities of the LAKMA can also transcend to other cities"



"The LAKMA can display the importance of Latin American Art in the 20th century due to the melting pot of Africa, Europe and Asia it represents"



"We should look in to the possibilities of using available spaces in Amersfoort to hold the exposition Mexico expected/unexpected proposed by the Mexican embassy."



"Amersfoort in C offers the LAKMA an office space available in the center of Amersfoort which can be used for one year to move the initiative forward."



"My company can motivate and gather the dance and music industry to move upon a promotion campaign to raise funds for the Lakma."



"In a society such as the Dutch society in which we are all equal, not having such space as the LAKMA has a negative effect on the Latin American youth that seeks identity."



"In a recently inaugurated exposition hall located in Bonn Germany, our diplomatic mission is exhibiting an exposition of Cuban contemporary art of great importance; our embassy normally shares costs and logistics with our mission in Germany, therefore we bring your attention towards the possibility of bringing this exposition to Amersfoort."



Cohesiveness is the extend to which members are attracted to a group and desire to remain in it. Cohesiveness is sometimes described as the sum of all forces acting on individuals to remain in the group. Cultural entrepreneurs and our adviser Dr. Paul van Royen are amazed of how rapidly the LAKMA initiative has spread and grown especially with such modest resources.

As the LAKMA unfolds we have to device management strategies and practical uses of the Internet and other possible tools to facilitate communication, socialization and interaction. In order to accomplish this, we have created a guideline and SharePoint agenda online were we all deposit information such as meetings, events, e-mails and much more.

The most difficult frontier has already been reached, Mr. Gerard de Kleijne offered an office place in the building of the foundation that manages the museums of the city which is a dependency of the municipality; with this, the city of Amersfoort will have the possibility to look in to our project; in the other hand, our community will also have the possibility to look in to the cultural community of Amersfoort. This is beneficial for both sides and the very beginning of cultural exchange.

We are very great-full to all those who attended the meeting. We will diligently pursue the recommendations, contributions and ideas of our stakeholders stated herein and welcome everyone who wishes to volunteer, help and support this initiative with open arms.

Francisco Gausachs
Co-founder of the LAKMA

REFERENCES

Hall, J. (1973) “Communication revisited”. California Management Review, 15(3): 56-67.

LAKMA WEBSITE www.lakma-nl.com “the Latin American art museum of Amersfoort (15ndof May 2009)

Maslow's Hierarchy "Internet Center for Management and Business Administration, Inc." http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/maslow (accessed May 17, 2009)

Vecchio, R.P., (2006), Organizational Behavior: Core Concepts, 6th Edition. USA: Thomson South-Western

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