Her mother told her that even as a child she had an eye for detail. ‘I was very aware of my surroundings and viewed the world with a critical eye. Not to seem greedy, but I've long been fascinated by jewellery and beautiful objects. When I completed my HAVO secondary school at 16, I first started a vocational programme in Interior Design at the Woodwork and Furnishing College.’
Having learned a lot about materials and craftsmanship, she wanted to expand her knowledge and decided to do a Bachelor's programme in Media, Art, Design and Architecture at the VU. ‘I’m not the usual student, I guess, as I don't like to spend all day reading. To me, gaining knowledge is also about looking, feeling and developing a visual language. I'm fascinated by questions like “What makes something ‘design’?” or “Is the design also practical?”’
Laying strong foundations
During her first year, Cheryl was able to lay strong foundations by studying a wide range of disciplines. ‘The interdisciplinary focus allowed me to identify styles in all kinds of designs. For example, I started to recognise art deco elements in architecture, applied art, jewellery and so on. We also visited lots of museums and institutions connected with urban planning.’
The only thing her programme lacked was practical experience, so she did a work placement at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. This led to her current job at the National Museum of World Culture – the Tropenmuseum Amsterdam, the Africa Museum and the National Museum of Ethnology.
Here, Cheryl is responsible for partnerships. ‘We attempt to establish relationships with parties with a similar mission: contributing to world citizenship with an open mind and view of the world and generating income.’ One such partner is Tony's Chocolonely, the manufacturer of ‘slave-free chocolate’. ‘It is fitting that our museums show the modern-day legacy of slavery and colonialism.’
Inclusion and diversity
Themes such as inclusion and diversity also feature regularly. ‘At the gender exhibition, we showed policemen in Fiji wearing skirts and a third gender in Mexico known as muxe. It all ties in with the philosophy of our museums, that despite a few differences, we're all the same: human.’
Cheryl grew up in a mainly white area in Schagen, West Friesland. ‘I came into contact with many different cultures in the Randstad and at university, and on campus I saw that there is plenty of room for all beliefs. It's a wonderful melting pot.’
Cheryl describes herself as pragmatic, down-to-earth and a ‘doer’. Besides her work, she is also training to be a goldsmith and would one day like to build bridges between the business world and the creative sector. ‘At my current employer, I have learned about fundraising, project management and many other processes. In future, I hope to help creative people by taking all this off their hands. I would also like to set up my own studio and make jewellery.’
