Carel Buenting
Could you tell us about your background?
I was born and raised in Amsterdam. I had a bit of a messy career. I started working in the film industry. I worked with the lights and the camera, as a second unit cameraman, mostly for documentaries. I was based in Amsterdam and worked mostly for Dutch companies, but also sometimes for foreign companies, who hired the assistants here. One of those jobs abroad was in the Philippines, for 3 months, when I was 22 years old. At some point I also worked as a photographer. At the age of 23 I started studying again and then I did educational work. During the first jobs I had, because audiovisual things were new in education, I was asked to, as a teacher, include them in the teaching. I also taught photography at some point. And finally, I started teaching Dutch as a second language, at the ROC in Amsterdam. I did that for about 20 years before retiring. Now, besides volunteering at Framer Framed, I am also volunteering once a week at the ArcheoHotSpot, at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam.
When did you first become involved with Framer Framed and in what way are you involved?
I started volunteering at Framer Framed a bit more than a year ago. I host the exhibitions, and because I enjoy doing things with my hands and eyes, I also started helping with the building up of the new exhibitions. I enjoy doing it so much that even if I already have an appointment, I cancel it in order to be able to do so.
Why did you decide to be part of Framer Framed?
When I retired, I first had to get used to it. It felt very strange to be in a museum on a Tuesday morning! After a year or so of being retired, I decided I wanted to start doing something on a more or less regular basis. So I searched on the Internet to see what was possible and I came across Framer Framed, which seemed to me like a nice organisation, with interesting activities. I also liked the fact that they are involved with social and political issues through their exhibitions and events.
I like volunteering with Framer Framed because I feel that I am supporting a creative process and I enjoy having this kind of contact with people – not just socializing, but communicating while also doing something together.
Carel Buenting was interviewed by Sofia Lovegrove Pereira.
