Suzanne Schols is a Dutch visual artist who uses photography, text and archival material for her works. She holds a degree in European politics and governance from the London School of Economics (LSE) and later graduated from the photography department of the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) after a career in the political field. Her artistic projects merge these experiences, exploring themes of power, influence and transparency.
Her graduation project Polite Fictions about diplomatic gifts received the Startpoint Prize for European Art Graduates and the Steenbergen Stipendium public choice award. Her subsequent project LOBBY investigates interest representation and the European Green Deal and led to her first solo exhibition at Fotomuseum Den Haag. Schols is currently developing a new body of work titled Check Against Delivery focused on UN climate change conferences.
In her spare time, she teaches and moderates workshops about politics, democracy and the rule of law.
Feel free to get in touch or subscribe to occasional updates at the bottom of this page︎
info@suzanneschols.com
instagram
linkedin
Her graduation project Polite Fictions about diplomatic gifts received the Startpoint Prize for European Art Graduates and the Steenbergen Stipendium public choice award. Her subsequent project LOBBY investigates interest representation and the European Green Deal and led to her first solo exhibition at Fotomuseum Den Haag. Schols is currently developing a new body of work titled Check Against Delivery focused on UN climate change conferences.
In her spare time, she teaches and moderates workshops about politics, democracy and the rule of law.
Feel free to get in touch or subscribe to occasional updates at the bottom of this page︎
info@suzanneschols.com
Education
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
BDes Photography
2016 - 2020
London School of Economics and Political Science
MSc Politics and Government in the EU
2009 - 2010
University of Amsterdam
BA European Studies
2005 - 2009
Work experience
ProDemos
Guest teacher
2022 - present
De Correspondent
Image editor (internship)
2019
Burson-Marsteller Brussels
Consultant, public affairs and communications
2011 - 2016
European Commission
Policy officer, information society and media
2011
Delegation of the EU to the USA
Public diplomacy officer (internship)
2008 - 2009
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
BDes Photography
2016 - 2020
London School of Economics and Political Science
MSc Politics and Government in the EU
2009 - 2010
University of Amsterdam
BA European Studies
2005 - 2009
Work experience
ProDemos
Guest teacher
2022 - present
De Correspondent
Image editor (internship)
2019
Burson-Marsteller Brussels
Consultant, public affairs and communications
2011 - 2016
European Commission
Policy officer, information society and media
2011
Delegation of the EU to the USA
Public diplomacy officer (internship)
2008 - 2009
Exhibitions
Solo
2025 Polite Fictions, Under the Spell, London, UK
2024 LOBBY, Fotomuseum Den Haag, NL
Group
2025 Upcoming: LOBBY, Nuit de l’Année, Rencontres d’Arles, FR
2024 Polite Fictions, Fotobokfestival Oslo, NO
2023 Polite Fictions, Storie di un attimo, Festival popolare della fotografia, Museo Archeologico di Olbia, IT
2021 The Best Light is No Light at all, Berlínskej Model, Prague, CZ
2021 Polite Fictions, Steenbergen Stipendium, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam, NL
2021 Polite Fictions, Startpoint exhibition, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2020 Polite Fictions, Startpoint exhibition, Kampus Hybernská, Prague, CZ
2020 Polite Fictions, Graduation show, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL
Awards & nominations
2024 Rencontres d'Arles Book Awards, LOBBY, shortlisted
2020 Steenbergen Stipendium, public choice award, winner
2020 Startpoint Prize for European Art Graduates, winner
2020 Goedman Stimuleringsprijs, winner
2020 De Beeldmakers #3, finalist
2020 Kassel Dummy Award, Polite Fictions, shortlisted
Grants & residencies
2025 Stroom Den Haag, SPOT grant
2024 Amarte Fonds, development grant
2024 Mondriaan Fonds, development voucher
2024 Palm Tree workshop with Mathieu Asselin, Santorini, GR
2023 Mondriaan Fonds, publication grant
2023 Jaap Hartenfonds, publication grant
2023 Stroom Den Haag, PRO art projects grant
2021 Artist in residence, Garage Gallery, Prague, CZ
Talks
2025 Artist talk, organised by Offprint London / Under the Spell, Tate Modern
2024 Artist talk, organised by Fotomuseum Den Haag
2023 Artist talk, organised by FOTODOK, Taferelen #42, Utrecht
2023 Book talk, organised by byob x ENTER ENTER, Amsterdam
2023 Book talk, organised by FOTODOK, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
2023 Artist talk, organised by PictureThis #6, Utopie, The Hague
2021 Artist talk, Zefir7 presents New Signatures, organised by BNO Den Haag and Stroom Den Haag
2020 Pitch, De Beeldmakers #3, organised by Het Parool and Vandejong
2020 Pitch, FOTODOK TakeOff #1
2020 Debate, Art and Design in the World of the United Nations, organised by Kunstpunt and SIB, Forum Groningen
Teaching
2024 Workshop series: Access Granted/Denied, Department of Photography, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2021 Guest lecture, FAMU Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts, Prague
2021 Guest lectures, Process and Play, Department of Photography, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
Books
2023 LOBBY, Between green deals and ideals, ISBN 978-90-8321324-8
2021 Polite Fictions, Behind the public face of diplomatic gifts, ISBN 978-90-9034619-9
Press & publications
2024 NPO Radio 1, VPRO Nooit Meer Slapen
2024 Taz, Fotobuch über EU-Büros: Singende Sirenen in Brüssel
2024 De Correspondent, Europa slaapwandelt terwijl China en de VS miljarden pompen in hun groene industrie, waarschuwt Bas Eickhout
2024 Maatschappij & Politiek (M&P), Onderdeel van het democratisch besluitvormingsproces
2024 De Leunstoel, De schoonheid van dodelijk saaie kantoorinterieurs
2024 Tzum, 80 woorden column: Lobby - between deals and ideals
2023 NRC, Wat zijn de tien mooiste en indrukwekkendste fotoboeken van 2023?
2023 FOTODOK, Beelden van politiek, politieke beelden
2023 DIGIFOTO Pro magazine, Mag ik even binnen kijken?
2023 NRC, Hoe richten lobbyorganisaties hun eigen lobby eigenlijk in?
2023 POLITICO, EU Influence, Lobbying for Transparency
2021 The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Diplomatic Gifts: An Introduction to the Forum
2020 Het Parool, Wie wint talentenjacht De Beeldmakers?
2020 360 Magazine, Polite Fictions
2019 De Correspondent, Boekentips
Solo
2025 Polite Fictions, Under the Spell, London, UK
2024 LOBBY, Fotomuseum Den Haag, NL
Group
2025 Upcoming: LOBBY, Nuit de l’Année, Rencontres d’Arles, FR
2024 Polite Fictions, Fotobokfestival Oslo, NO
2023 Polite Fictions, Storie di un attimo, Festival popolare della fotografia, Museo Archeologico di Olbia, IT
2021 The Best Light is No Light at all, Berlínskej Model, Prague, CZ
2021 Polite Fictions, Steenbergen Stipendium, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam, NL
2021 Polite Fictions, Startpoint exhibition, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2020 Polite Fictions, Startpoint exhibition, Kampus Hybernská, Prague, CZ
2020 Polite Fictions, Graduation show, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL
Awards & nominations
2024 Rencontres d'Arles Book Awards, LOBBY, shortlisted
2020 Steenbergen Stipendium, public choice award, winner
2020 Startpoint Prize for European Art Graduates, winner
2020 Goedman Stimuleringsprijs, winner
2020 De Beeldmakers #3, finalist
2020 Kassel Dummy Award, Polite Fictions, shortlisted
Grants & residencies
2025 Stroom Den Haag, SPOT grant
2024 Amarte Fonds, development grant
2024 Mondriaan Fonds, development voucher
2024 Palm Tree workshop with Mathieu Asselin, Santorini, GR
2023 Mondriaan Fonds, publication grant
2023 Jaap Hartenfonds, publication grant
2023 Stroom Den Haag, PRO art projects grant
2021 Artist in residence, Garage Gallery, Prague, CZ
Talks
2025 Artist talk, organised by Offprint London / Under the Spell, Tate Modern
2024 Artist talk, organised by Fotomuseum Den Haag
2023 Artist talk, organised by FOTODOK, Taferelen #42, Utrecht
2023 Book talk, organised by byob x ENTER ENTER, Amsterdam
2023 Book talk, organised by FOTODOK, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
2023 Artist talk, organised by PictureThis #6, Utopie, The Hague
2021 Artist talk, Zefir7 presents New Signatures, organised by BNO Den Haag and Stroom Den Haag
2020 Pitch, De Beeldmakers #3, organised by Het Parool and Vandejong
2020 Pitch, FOTODOK TakeOff #1
2020 Debate, Art and Design in the World of the United Nations, organised by Kunstpunt and SIB, Forum Groningen
Teaching
2024 Workshop series: Access Granted/Denied, Department of Photography, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2021 Guest lecture, FAMU Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts, Prague
2021 Guest lectures, Process and Play, Department of Photography, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
Books
2023 LOBBY, Between green deals and ideals, ISBN 978-90-8321324-8
2021 Polite Fictions, Behind the public face of diplomatic gifts, ISBN 978-90-9034619-9
Press & publications
2024 NPO Radio 1, VPRO Nooit Meer Slapen
2024 Taz, Fotobuch über EU-Büros: Singende Sirenen in Brüssel
2024 De Correspondent, Europa slaapwandelt terwijl China en de VS miljarden pompen in hun groene industrie, waarschuwt Bas Eickhout
2024 Maatschappij & Politiek (M&P), Onderdeel van het democratisch besluitvormingsproces
2024 De Leunstoel, De schoonheid van dodelijk saaie kantoorinterieurs
2024 Tzum, 80 woorden column: Lobby - between deals and ideals
2023 NRC, Wat zijn de tien mooiste en indrukwekkendste fotoboeken van 2023?
2023 FOTODOK, Beelden van politiek, politieke beelden
2023 DIGIFOTO Pro magazine, Mag ik even binnen kijken?
2023 NRC, Hoe richten lobbyorganisaties hun eigen lobby eigenlijk in?
2023 POLITICO, EU Influence, Lobbying for Transparency
2021 The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Diplomatic Gifts: An Introduction to the Forum
2020 Het Parool, Wie wint talentenjacht De Beeldmakers?
2020 360 Magazine, Polite Fictions
2019 De Correspondent, Boekentips