This year PICNIC was all about new ownership: the movement of empowerment of the people and taking responsibility, as citizens as well as organizations. The talks and workshops revolved around how to develop and realize solutions to collective problems – all with a focus on people: creating and sharing value for people. This year’s host Alice Taylor (from MakieLab) told the audience in her opening speech that historically, ‘open’ wins. The speakers were to show how openness should be realised in our digital world and how it thus will also rule the future. Choosing Amsterdam’s new filmmuseum EYE as location for the two-day event created a different atmosphere from last year’s more out in the open container city on NDSM wharf – EYE felt a little too intimate. Apart from that, it was as inspiring as always. More…

Hallo© is an academy for applied creativity: offering a one-year postgraduate study, international master classes, summer courses and a think tank of former Hallo©  students. On September 3rd, Hallo© celebrated the opening of a three day exposition with works of the 2011-2012 students on display and the opportunity to talk to them. The results of „a year of blood, sweat and tears“. All photos here.

AmsterdamAd Blog is keeping a photolog while in Cannes of all the (pool) parties we are attending. Photos are taken by Wouter Boon, Marleen Wiedhaup, and Buutvrij for Life. All photos here.

Helsinki based creative consultancy Agent Pekka celebrated the opening of its Amsterdam office with an exhibition at a packed Guns & Butter gallery. Made in collaboration with 25 artists, visitors could claim their piece of a series of unique artworks, especially made for the occasion. Besides works of the agency’s key illustrators, the exhibition ‘Pekka is here’ features creations by creative agency Kokoro & Moi, design studio Musuta and the brand new creative agency Tsto. Established in 2007, the agency operates globally, promoting commercial artists specialized in illustration, design, CG and moving image for commissions and collaborations. Head of the new Amsterdam office is producer Caroline Svensson. She has spent several years already in Amsterdam as art producer at Wieden+Kennedy and 180 Amsterdam. The exhibition at Guns & Butter gallery will be on show this week from Thursday (May 10th) till Saturday (May 12th) from 12 to 6pm. Photos of the launch can be found here.

On May 3rd the opening of Laser 3.14 solo exhibition ‘Let me know the rules so I can ignore them’ took place at Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam. Presenting an installation of his new work, which consists of framed prints, steel shields and handwork on wood panels. Photos by Beatrix Häger and Evelyn Grunau. All photos here.

On April 26th, 2012, ADCN held their 45th award show at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Photos by Alex de Groot. All photos here.

Jonge Honden (“Ad Pups”) organized a Portfolio Night on March 22nd at The People’s Place on Stadhouderskade. Apart from physical portfolios and MacBooks, we noticed that the iPad is also becoming a preferred portfolio carrier. Other than that, not much has changed; ideas, ambition, and enthusiasm galore. All photos here.

On March 22nd, 2012, Emerce, Achtung!, Bert Hagendoorn, Pop The Campaign, and Creative Social organized a Digital Dinner at restaurant Raïnaraï. Photos by Roy del Vecchio (roydelvecchio.com). All photos here.

What can we – both creatives and agencies – do to become immune for the economic crisis was the theme of the second night organized (on January 19th) by the Reclameridders. Photos by Donnie Busaeri de Meijer. All photos here.

The Tomorrow Awards, founded by Ignacio Oreanumo, were held in Pakhuis de Zwijger on November 17th, 2011. A night of lots of booz and some great speakers: Paul Lavoie (Taxi), Nick Bailey (AKQA), Carl Johnson (Anomaly), and Jean-François Bouchard (Sid Lee) – more info on AAB. Photo’s by Sigol Eschkol (http://www.sigeli.com). All photos here.

The first Portfolio Night, held on September 21st,  2011 at Pakhuis de Zwijger was all about showing your portfolio and hoping to be scouted. Long tables gave 150 photographers, art directors, graphic designers, interaction designers and copywriters the chance to talk to their favorite agencies. All photos here.

Amsterdam Ad Blog is keeping a photolog this year in Cannes, because a photo says more than a 1000 words. Of course we are especially interested in the Dutch (or Amsterdam) crowd. All photos here.

On June 10th 2011, the digital podge was held in Amsterdam. It was organised by Achtung! and Bert Hagendoorn and sponsored by the Adobe User Group. The day started with a reception at the Mayor’s official residence on the Herengracht. We were then taken on a boat through the Amsterdam canals and to ‘De Goudfazant’, a restaurant on the Northern shore of the IJ river. The day ended at café Nol in the Jordaan – but unfortunately we didn’t make that. All photos here.

ReclameRidders, organized by Ivar de Jong and Martijn Lankveld (students at the Willem de Kooning academy), was held on May 19th 2011 at Studio K. De Jong and Lankveld invited some well known ad professionals to talk about the role and importance of an advertising education and the future of advertising. All photos here.

Creative Amsterdam 2011 was held 11-13 May. The event invites Dutch creatives working abroad to provide the Amsterdam creative scene with a wider creative horizon. All photos here.

On May 13th 2011 the Jonge Honden (Ad Pups) were given 24 Hours to create a concept for HEMA and win a trip to Cannes. All photos here.