P60

P60, a citizen initiative, is the independent venue for pop culture and visual arts in the city of Amstelveen, near Amsterdam airport. Opened in 2001, P60 is 2090 sqm and includes a concert hall (capacity 650 people standing), a foyer, a café/restaurant, and rehearsal rooms for bands/deejays. Visual arts exhibitions are shown on the front wall of the building. The café/restaurant hosts exhibitions by young artists on a regular basis. Each year around 45.000 people attend around 200 activities organised in the centre: concerts, club events, talent development workshops, etc. With a small team of 12 people, and more than 70 local volunteers, P60 is deeply rooted in the local community. The target group of P60 is young adults (age 12-30).

“Young adults are living a delicate moment of unemployment, lack of opportunities and disorientation. It’s not easy to motivate them and to maintain their enthusiasm. We try to do it with passion and creativity. We provide them the feeling of being at home”, states Gerard Lohuis, P60’s Managing Director.

P60 relies on a structure of young people that are experienced trainers in non-formal education and every coordinator is in charge of different projects that involve young adults. Kim Maasdijk is responsible for the (social media) communication. Barry van der Ham, technical manager, is training volunteers to increase their skills in sound/light/visual design. Cathelijne van Roden is the coordinator of all the volunteers in P60 experienced in the field of education and key competencies for the lifelong learning. Helma Wiebrecht is experienced with administrative work regarding local and international projects. Gerard Lohuis has since 1995 experience with project management of European projects in different frames as mentoring grassroots organizations and empowering local communities in raising awareness of topics like social capital and education.

For some cultural/educational projects P60 gets funding from local government and (national) funds. Main sponsors are Heineken and Pepsi. The main resources are coming from the entrance, the four bars and renting out spaces and facilities.

In 2016 P60 started the company talent support club, in which private companies are supporting financially several talent development programmes.

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