Influence of informal & grassroots spaces

Informal events operate as a network, often using separate venues. Collectives share spaces, volunteers, audiences, and hire the same loudspeakers and equipment.

Many spaces are run in a grassroots way, but participants said it is almost impossible to be truly independent in Amsterdam. There are almost no empty spaces left where people can hold an event. For getting a space, securing contracts and assuring ticket sales are more important than having an idea.

A total of 81% of survey respondents in Amsterdam call temporary spaces important for the city’s nightlife. And 82% include places such as record shops, studios and radio stations in their evaluation.