Artists move from one condemned tower block in order to find space in which to work. But the condemned tower blocks also attract drug addicts, rubbish and crime. Urban degeneration cannot be countered merely with more police on the beat or CCTV monitoring. It is the people that make their environment. The artists have shown this in their nomadic existence. As they work in their studios, visible to the whole neighbourhood, they make an important contribution to the social renewal of the Bijlmer district and the quality of life in the area. By offering affordable studio spaces, new artists can take their first step in the business and contribute to the quality of life in the area.

The bottom two floors of the Kruitberg tower block will house some twenty studios. After the renovation, the ground floor level will become the tower block's calling card. No more dark spaces around storage rooms that look unsafe and dirty, but a group of artists who want to be at the heart of the Bijlmer community. The city district is implementing this project in collaboration with the Stichting Open Ateliers [Open Studios Foundation], an important organisation for artists made up entirely of volunteers which organises exhibitions and events. The Foundation will select and support the future users of the studios in Kruitberg.

An incubator where artists can work and where school students and residents can come for courses will generate income for the artists and activities for the neighbourhood. The arrival of the new artists and studios will enliven the neighbourhood. The project will strengthen the quality of life, image and appeal of the immediate surroundings of the Kruitberg tower block.

European subsidy: € 427.077
Total cost: € 2.097.012

This project has been partially funded with Objective 2 funds. Since 2000 nine cities have been eligible for the Objective 2 Urban Areas in the Netherlands programme, which forms part of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) of the European Union. EFRD is one of the four Structural Funds of the European Commission. The programme helps cities to carry out projects that benefit disadvantaged areas.

In the Netherlands, total European Objective 2 subsidies concern 192 million euros. 4.25% of the Dutch population lives in the selected areas.

The European Commission prescribes that for every euro from the EFRD, a minimum of one euro must be contributed from the government. The cities must therefore add their own public or private funding to the European subsidy. The European programme is linked to the urban plans agreed within the context of the urban policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. For this, the cities can make use of funds that have been allocated to them in the context of the national urban policy.

Amsterdam Bijlmer en Amstel III
Phone: +31 20 5670585

01/01/2004

case

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing management

Housing finance