Kunststroom
Museum van Bommel van Dam and Venlo Partners, the city management and city marketing organisation, have joined forces for Kunststroom. This project challenges graphic designers from the region to create a design for an electricity box in Venlo city centre.
Ugly electricity boxes
They are an eyesore for many people: electricity boxes scattered around the city that disrupt the streetscape. Once they are in place, however, they are difficult to move. And of course, they are there for a reason. They are generally needed for things such as street lighting, telecommunications and other services. But surely they could look better?
That is why Venlo Partners and museum van Bommel van Dam are inviting designers from the region to develop a concept for selected electricity boxes in Venlo city centre. The theme is ‘The Energetic City’ and gives designers plenty of artistic freedom. The creative framework can be interpreted in their own way. Museum van Bommel van Dam and Venlo-based design agency Luidspreker are working together as project curators and are inviting a number of local designers to take part.
Design Parade
The electricity box at the beginning of the Parade, close to museum van Bommel van Dam, was the first to be given a new look. For this design, graphic designer Imke Gerritsen from Reuver took inspiration from the idea of Venlo as a lively city with a rich cultural scene. “I see Venlo as a vibrant city with lots of events and celebrations. There is always something happening here,” says Imke. These ideas led to the design Elektricity*. “It is a strong pattern built from a unique shape, inspired by the municipal boundaries of Venlo. Through colour and repetition, this pattern guides different flows that are connected to one another and strengthen each other.” Motion designer Jay Versleijen from Venlo then brought the design to life in the animation below.
(Motion) design
Design Julianapark
De stroomkast bij het Julianapark werd in de zomer van 2023 voorzien van het kunstwerk Toegevoegde realiteit van Onno Blase, een onderdeel van het Julianapark dat nog niet helemaal geladen is. Zo kunnen o.a. Zomerparkfeest, Venloop, Boètegewoeëne Boètezitting en Stereo Sunday festival dankzij Stichting Parkpower ook de komende edities weer gebruik maken van duurzamere energie. Alleen dan nét in een unieker jasje! Wat zie jij als je recht voor de stroomkast staat?
Design Geldersepoort
In juni 2024 werd een derde stroomkast verfraaid met het ontwerp Waarde van Crissy Fila & Chris Klerken. Zorgvuldig geselecteerd, geëtaleerd en teruggegeven aan de stad. Een stilleven met spullen van gelijke waarde. Lege blikjes, gebruikte servetjes en kibbeling naast bloemen en verse vis. Het een bestaat niet zonder het ander. Niets is mooi als er niets lelijk is. Maar wie bepaalt dat?
Design De Markt
Which emotions do people from Venlo associate with the market? This woven artwork by Anne van Dreumel makes those feelings visible. Each colour represents an emotion, and through overlaps and contrasts, they come together in a harmonious whole. In this way, the work creates a collective image in which individual experiences come together, connected through textiles and data. The key on the box helps visitors recognise the different emotions. De Markt in Kleur was unveiled in April 2025.
Design Sint Martinusbasiliek
Invisible? Almost. These electricity boxes, featuring a design by Studio Denk, are almost hidden by repeating the pattern of the surrounding walls across their surfaces. At the same time, something is just slightly off. It is a subtle visual joke that gives a ‘forgotten place’ in the city a little more character. Hiding Places has been on display since July 2026.
