The Global 80s Project Premiers in Amsterdam Tonight!

As a 2015 CBK BijlmAIR (artist in residence) DJ Lynnee Denise will present research and moderate a panel discussion with local artists and activists about music, arts and politics in the Bijlmer 1980s. The Amsterdam Bijlmer 80s is the first city to launch The Global 80s, a multi-city performative research project that uses DJ culture to explore the social conditions and political temperature of nine cities to understand the way music and culture expressed the collective mood of people impacted by institutional racism and displacement in the 1980s.

The Bijlmer is a community primarily made up of people of color from the former "Dutch Colonies," 'labor migrants' from Turkey and Morocco and refugees from all over the world. Commonly referred to as Amsterdam's only ghetto, the Bijlmer's existence highlights the contentious relationship between immigrants in Europe and post-colonial institutions that fail to address the legacies of colonialism that manifests in this particular community through unemployment, poverty, addiction and policies informed by xenophobia. The goal of the Bijlmer 80s project, was to be in dialogue with the people based in the community and record stories rooted in lived experiences. The Bijlmer 80s will discuss creativity, inspiration and complicated notions of home and belonging. The panel consists of activist and writer Simone Zeefuik, visual artist Aileen Middel, Director of No Limit and political activist Angelo Bromet and DJ and cultural producer Bamba Nazar. The event will take place Thursday May 21, 2015 at CBK Zuidoost from 17hr-19hr. Address is Anton de Komplein 120, 1102 DR Amsterdam.