Sierra Durgaram is a community builder and owner of Bar Bario - a café that is a safe space for the black and queer community. We talked to Sierra about her safe space, life and starting a business at a young age.
Since I was fifteen, I have been working at bars and restaurants. I did not know what to study so I started working full time in my gap year. I personally missed a place in Amsterdam that was inclusive and diverse for people of color and the queer community. When I celebrated my 17th birthday at this location, a family member suggested starting my own place here. I took out a loan and did so, without any knowledge of running a business. I did everything myself, from renovating the bar to learning how to get permits.
“I did everything myself, from renovating the bar to learning how to get permits.”
Sierra Durgaram is a community builder and owner of Bar Bario - a café that is a safe space for the black and queer community. We talked to Sierra about her safe space, life and starting a business at a young age.
“I did everything myself, from renovating the bar to learning how to get permits.”
Since I was fifteen, I have been working at bars and restaurants. I did not know what to study so I started working full time in my gap year. I personally missed a place in Amsterdam that was inclusive and diverse for people of color and the queer community. When I celebrated my 17th birthday at this location, a family member suggested starting my own place here. I took out a loan and did so, without any knowledge of running a business. I did everything myself, from renovating the bar to learning how to get permits.
The freedom to express yourself the way you want to. In my opinion this is the only way you are able to really connect to the people around you.
I am from Curaçao but grew up in The Netherlands. I went to a school where I was the only child of colour. I figured, I am different anyway, so why not show my personality with a little extra. Since I can remember, clothing and styling have always been a way for me to show my personality. And they still are.
We organize lots of events at Bar Bario, which are mostly about connecting and being equal. We are obviously a place where everybody can be who they are. We set clear guidelines so everybody knows that. In the future, we are going to host a monthly radio show together with presenter and radio host Studio Kabba. The show has panel talks, interviews with residence artists who have their art in our exposition space. We want to talk about underexposed social topics. We want to celebrate special Bar Bario guests and tell Bar Bario stories. In the end I could see that we will open our own inclusive club, a safe space, with more diversity in people and music.
I am most proud of the community we built. People feel free and safe to visit, also on their own. We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of Bar Bario! A lot can happen in a year. Funny anecdote: I was asked on a date by someone who did not know me, to my own bar. Very funny. For me that states that the bar has its own identity, without me. That is a great thing when you’re building a business. Bar Bario is now a concept that could also grow without me.
“I figured, I am different anyway, so why not show my personality with a little extra.”
We organize lots of events at Bar Bario, which are mostly about connecting and being equal. We are obviously a place where everybody can be who they are. We set clear guidelines so everybody knows that. In the future, we are going to host a monthly radio show together with presenter and radio host Studio Kabba. The show has panel talks, interviews with residence artists who have their art in our exposition space. We want to talk about underexposed social topics. We want to celebrate special Bar Bario guests and tell Bar Bario stories. In the end I could see that we will open our own inclusive club, a safe space, with more diversity in people and music.
I am most proud of the community we built. People feel free and safe to visit, also on their own. We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of Bar Bario! A lot can happen in a year. Funny anecdote: I was asked on a date by someone who did not know me, to my own bar. Very funny. For me that states that the bar has its own identity, without me. That is a great thing when you’re building a business. Bar Bario is now a concept that could also grow without me.
“I am a quote.I am a quote.I am a quote.I am a quote.”
