Patchwork, an open investigation into Watou 3.0

The City of Poperinge is looking forward to the 40th edition of the Watou Arts Festival in the summer of 2021, while at the same time considering the future of the festival. The ‘Patchwork’ initiative is an open research into Watou 3.0. An open call is launched for participation in this unique research project under the curatorship of Koen Vanmechelen.

These are new times. Which role can Watou play in the future? (curator Koen Vanmechelen)

Patchwork

The research project will start in the summer of 2021 with the ‘Patchwork’ experiment. Curator Koen Vanmechelen: “The Patchwork initiative invites young and older artists from all disciplines to think together what the next editions of Watou might look like. With a tent and sleeping bag. And to inspire one another.” The result of this research project could lead to a new concept for Watou, translated into one or more in situ artworks, which will be shown to the general public at Watou the following year. “These are new times. Which role can Watou play in the future? Now is the time to think about this and to work on this. The result of this multi-day gathering will undoubtedly be a patchwork of impressions, an unpredictable whole of different elements.”

“A vision for the future in which the link with the local community and the context will be the focal point. (schepen Loes Vandromme)

Open call with an international jury

The City of Poperinge will launch an open call for participation in the research project on 1 February. This will expire on 1 April. Professional artists of all disciplines, final year Bachelor or Master of Art students, individuals or a collective, nationally and abroad, can apply. A diverse and international jury, chaired by Koen Vanmechelen, will select the participants, based on the CV, portfolio and motivation. After their stay in Watou, the participants will be asked to submit a project proposal for the Watou Arts Festival 2022 Edition.

Supralocal culture project

The city of Poperinge received a subsidy of 220,000 Euro by the Flemish Government in 2020 for the supralocal cultural project ‘Watou 3.0 – Research Project – Back to the community’. Loes Vandromme, Deputy Mayor of Culture: “Under the curatorship of artist Koen Vanmechelen, known from ComingWorldRememberMe and LABIOMISTA, the city is looking for a future vision for the festival as from 2022 and onwards. A vision for the future in which the link with the local community and the context will be the focal point.”

All information

[post published on Tuesday 26.01.2021]