GROND
A safe space to experiment, play, grow, and think differently together!
GROND is a collective and art space at Het Nieuwe Bajesdorp in Overamstel. The GROND collective currently consists of 21 individual members and one collective. These members include sound artists and composers, dancers, social art practitioners, filmmakers, theatre makers, visual artists, and artists with interdisciplinary practices. With a focus on collectivity, sustainability, cross-pollination, and process-based work, they aim to combat alienation in an increasingly individualistic and capitalistic society by building a community where people from all backgrounds can come together to connect and create.
We spoke to members of GROND to learn a bit about who they are, how they are organized, and what their plans are for this exciting new free space.
Could you start by telling us about the building?
GROND is situated in the Nieuwe Bajesdorp building. This new building is an initiative of some of the people that squatted the houses of the prison guards from the former BijlmerBajes prison in 2003. After many years and struggles, they have succeeded in realising this fantastic new building in which living, working and public functions are combined. The building is owned (in a VrijCoop construction) by a new non-profit housing cooperation that was founded specifically for this project. Last year, the people who now live and work here moved in. GROND also opened last summer, but it was more of a soft launch with only a few small events because we spent most of last year finishing the inside of the building. 2025 will be the first year with weekly programming.
What kind of space(s) do you have?
The ground floor, where GROND is located, is divided into a couple of different spaces. The first one is the Blackbox Theater (ca. 60 m²). This is a flexible, soundproof performance space that we plan to equip with theater lighting, a sound system, and a projector. The theater space offers a stage for the artists of the collective, as well as external artists, invited by our members, to present their work. But being a performance space is only part of what GROND has to offer. We also have three studios that are centered around collectivity, sustainability, cross-pollination, and process-based work. Those studios can be used by all the members of the collective. The first one is the Open Studio for workshops, gatherings, discussions and rehearsals. The second one is the Maker Space where you can work with textiles, wood, and other physical materials. The third one will be the office space for writing, printing, discussing, meeting, thinking, and editing, with a small sound studio to be built in as well. Last but not least, there is the Canteen, which connects two studios and the Blackbox with a kitchen and a bar. Oh, and outside we have two gardens. De Bajestuin has been functioning as a community garden for many years already. The second garden with edible plants and a small amphitheater in the middle still needs to be realised.
Where does the name GROND come from?
It refers to being rooted and grounded in a place. But it is also about establishing an alternative place in the city that will grow, prosper, and have a long-term impact.
How would you describe the collective?
Well, we are a pretty new collective, made up of all sorts of makers and/or artistic researchers: graphic designers, writers, curators, independent publishers, filmmakers, interdisciplinary artists, visual artists, chefs, and musicians. In general, we are a collective that runs the spaces of GROND together under a shared vision. We have not yet settled on a definite purpose or form of the collective, but we are all interested in creating a new place for experimentation, art, culture, food, music, and social activities. We are testing out a bottom-up and organic way of programming, where different program components flow into each other, and bridges are built. We want to connect different domains and invest in building relationships based on reciprocity. GROND is a place where artists of the collective can work and focus on the process of making. Next to that, we will have regular programming.
Do you see yourself as a continuation of what was already happening in the ‘old’ Bajesdorp?
Partly yes, because Bajesdorp has always been a place for living, working, and a variety of public activities, but GROND is a new initiative. We have members from the Bajesdorp group, some of whom are also living in the building, but we also have new members who had no connection to what happened here before this new building was realised. There are only a couple of people who were also involved in the ‘old’ Bajesdorp.
How does the programming work?
Any member of GROND can propose and realise ideas. These can be workshops, symposiums, film screenings, performances of any kind, exhibitions, recordings, readings, jam sessions, or anything else. There is no decision-making regarding people’s ideas; as long as it fits in the calendar, everyone is free to organise. We have a programming group that facilitates the practical organisation of the program.
What does your organisational structure look like?
We are organized as a Vereniging, with working groups for finances, programming, PR and the Canteen group. We are partly inspired by Splendor, which is also an Amsterdam-based organisation and space where the artists are in charge and can make use of the spaces. The main difference is that we are not only musicians; our group includes musicians as well, but also a wide variety of other artists, practitioners, and activists.
Every member is part of one or more working groups. The groups meet every week or every two weeks. We also have general assemblies every two weeks, where we share updates from the different working groups and discuss matters that are not part of a working group. We are currently working on mandates for the different working groups and on the decision-making process.
Is your collective full, or are you still open to new artists?
In general, the group is quite flexible, but we do think about the size of the group and when to open up to new members. We decide collectively on new members. At the moment, we have 23 individual members and one collective, but that number might also grow.
We have had several open calls for new members to apply. During the selection process, we look at how people envision their membership at GROND and how they want to use the spaces. As a group, we decide if someone’s wishes align with the practical possibilities within the spaces. We also try to maintain a balance in disciplines, backgrounds, and characters in the group.
How does GROND work financially?
GROND pays rent to Bajesdorp. We generate income through a number of sources: a monthly membership fee, ticket sales, bar, subsidies, etc. We are still figuring out our financial model because we have only just started. Entry prices differ per event, but we often use a sliding scale, allowing people to choose how much they want to pay for their ticket. We are also launching a ‘Friends of GROND’ campaign, where people can become regular sponsors of GROND in different capacities.
Do you consider GROND and Bajesdorp to be free spaces?
Yes, definitely. We are not bound by anyone else’s vision for GROND, and we are doing all we can to create a space where all members are free to put their ideas into practice.
More about GROND online:
www.instagram.com/grond.bajesdorp
www.grond.community