See for more information the report of KEI.
Most of the people living in Kanaleneiland-Noord have to move out of their houses. Until the neighborhood is going to be demolished, local artists are offered housing and work spaces by an organisation called eiland 8. This is an initiative of the two main housing corporations and the property manager. The idea is to offer artists and cultural workers (or promising, creative entrepreneurs) cheap spaces in exchange for nice, social projects which can improve the atmosphere and the cohesion in the neighborhood.
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| artistic impression of eiland 8 |
The result is that the neighborhood is flooded with young, white artists (like myself) - who are involved in a myriad creative projects to cheer up the neighborhood. The research department of the political party Groen Links did a very interesting investigation in the effects of social projects in Kanaleneiland. It is called 'banen of barbecues' (jobs or barbecues) and the conclusion of this rapport is that there are already many grass root, social initiatives in the neighborhood and that new projects don't add much value to this. What is really needed is more jobs - a better economic situation would make a difference.
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| artists placing colourful tiles made by children in Kanaleneiland-Noord |
The artist I spoke to felt ambivalent about their situation - they were happy to have an affordable space, but at the same time they felt uncomfortable with the cheery, superficial character of the art works in the neighborhood. But at the same time I felt they didn't really want to engage with the neighborhood and the original residents - it is just a temporary location of which many will follow.
This is the snake pit in the middle of which I would have to develop my research - a very difficult, but at least daring condition.
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| working space in one of the gardens |
