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Amsterdam 1987
Why the city wanted to be a cultural capital?
There were three main issues which formed the basis of Amsterdam Cultural Capital 1987
- Europe. What did it mean in geographical sense? (not limited to the European Community member states during that period)
- Cultural identity. What did the culture of Europe’s different entities mean for the European culture as a whole?
- International perspective. What is the content of the cultural cooperation between the different stately and political formations (without the limitations of political borders).
What was the concept?
In all activities the guiding principle was that it should not be limited to activities for the year 1987 only, instead it was the purpose to have some continuality in the activities. This goal was achieved by cooperating with cultural institutions whose activities were already connected which the goal and purposes of the cultural capital idea and which could be artistically deepened or internationalised.
The issue “Europe in geographical sense” was appearing in almost all presentations within the program. There was a specific search for performances ands presentations from all countries of Europe on the basis of artistic criteria, and not limited to the countries of the European Community during those days.
Program
- Fine arts and applied arts:
21 exhibitions (directly and indirectly) a.o. Dutch Masters and the landscape, Oskar Schlemmer: man and abstract in the twenties and thirties
17 books and catalogues
4 congresses a.o. “The other side of design”
1 general activity (Museumboat)
- Stage performances, music and dance
798 performances / concerts: a.o. Stagedoor festival
11 workshops
35 lectures / seminars
3 exhibitions
- Film video and audiovisual
242 film and video screenings
1 exhibition
1 symposium
100 hours of cultural productions on the local TV channel
- Literature
3 publications
6 readings
24 congresses / symposia
- Cultural questions
1 exhibition
7 congresses
4 publications
Emphasis
Within the concept emphasis was put on the fact that it was a truly European festival. Not restricted tot the European Community. In 2006 this is hardly conceivable but in the eighties this was an important aspect. In that sense the European Cultural Capital concept is dynamic and proved to be flexible in dramatically changed circumstances.
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