Best Alternative Art Initiatives
Magnus came here from Sweden with the naïve intention of studying art for a year. A dozen years on he's still here, and considers the Amsterdam art world his home away from home. In his own work he deals with how memory affects our perception of the world. He gets inspiration from cats, Indians and riding trains. Magnus is our guide to this city’s multi-faceted array of visual culture.
Offering an alternative
The Amsterdam art scene not only consists of museums and commercial galleries, but also includes a wide variety of interesting alternatives. In a city like ours, with a history steeped in underground resistance, versatile cultural entrepreneurship is wholeheartedly supported. Here are just a few of my favourites.
Agents of conceptual art
Initiated in 2003 by Karin Christof, Agentur promotes a more conceptual stance towards art-making and theory.
Currently operating without a permanent exhibition space they organise shows, symposiums and film screenings at other available locations around town. They also have a residency program with a studio located in the Volkskrant building.
This former printing house for the Volkskrant newspaper was turned into a studio complex in 2007. Check Agentur for an up-to-date programme of exhibitions and initiatives.
Artist take initiative
Plan B (Herengracht 32) is an “artist initiative” in the truest sense of the word. Artists Tarja Szaraniec and Tomas Adolfs run Plan B as a completely independent entity, complete with its own Multiples Store. They offer exhibition possibilities for other artists who are not necessarily connected to commercial galleries. Artists can submit proposals but as Plan B’s reputation grows, so does the wait list. Openings are nice here; people often spill out into the street, adding a bit of edge to the otherwise posh Herengracht.
No concrete
When most people think of public art, they possibly imagine giant, oppressive concrete slabs occupying city squares. SKOR try to promote a wider understanding of the concept of public space. They have helped organise workshops where children can make use of virtual town planner software and, when artist Erik van Lieshout was commissioned to design a mobile cuddle-space for the mentally handicapped, SKOR pulled the strings. For the latest projects, manifestations and where to find them check out SKOR.
- Tell a friend
More tips by I Ambassador Magnus
Recent I ambassadors tips