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POSTERS OF THE KOSMOS – THE FIRST 20 YEARS The Posters of the Kosmos, Amsterdam are a mirror of the ‘Zeitgeist’ from a period in the second half of the 20th Century in which we can see cultural innovation and a spiritual renaissance. For the Kosmos, publicity was an essential tool to reach an audience interested in its programmes. Early posters are very simple. So metimes not more then the plain message of an event. Throughout the years a Kosmos style emerges, usually quite basic but with well chosen colors. Soon though very sophisticated posters were published too. All posters were made in close cooperation between artists and graphic designers, printe rs and the programme organisers. Almost seven years posters were silk screen printed in house– for great events though by professional printers. Sizes vary from A4 to A2. The posters in this web edition are brought together by the people of the Kosmos and donated to- and archived in the Institute for S ocial History, Amsterdam. Thanks to Simon Vinkenoog, Tjebbe van Tijen, John Blogg and many others. This collection is only a selection of published posters. There are many not digitalised yet, or in private collections. In this publication I made no notes to the posters, though many of these represent beautiful and intriguing stories. I have refrained to place the posters in chronological order, so the book offers an adventure to the reader, and may bring back memories and the stories not yet told. By due time there will appear a revised edition of this publication, with additions of many of the other posters that were published You are invited to contribute to this by sending the images of posters you owe or know of to: Kosmos.Nederland@gmail.com. Comments and questions welcome. Spring 2013, Eckart Dissen
©Photo Page 1: by courtesy of Hugo Schuit
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The last picture This last poster is the first poster ever printed by the Kosmos, and presented the working community at its start. When you were there, you are on the picture, and you will know most of the people at that time. Throughout the years the working community consisting of artists, musicians, staff and co-workers, teachers and volunteers changed completely. Not one of the people at this photo was still there in 1992, when Kosmos closed definitely. But same made it quite far‌
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