Irene Borghans
For Irene Borghans, born next to the Emma State Mine, DSM is still “the Emma.” Her family history is deeply intertwined with the mining region and its cultural heritage.
Her grandfather worked above ground at the Emma and was a co-founder of the Beambtencasino in Treebeek, the social and cultural hub of the State Mines. Her father worked at the DSM headquarters in Heerlen. She herself grew up with theatre, concerts, and gatherings at the Beambtencasino. Those memories, together with the support of the Fund for Social Institutions, made art and culture a natural part of her life. For Irene, it makes perfect sense that the DSM collection remains in Heerlen: “After all, it’s something that belongs to us.”
Read her full story in the Rooted in Change magazine, packed with interviews and background on the exhibition. Available from late October in the SCHUNCK museum shop.
Irene Borghans door Dani Silvia