Festivals and public presentations – 16 projects selected

Wasteland: Streams – Stichting Thick Present
The transdisciplinary Wasteland festival is a jointly initiated programme by Stichting Thick Present and Collective Wasteland. The festival invites audiences and participants to consider the journey of ‘waste’, to trace its impact in different places, on humans and non-humans, to identify any problems and look for solutions. For 21 days, Wasteland tracks global and local waste streams in an exhibition featuring work by national and international designers, artists and initiatives. The project consists of several weekend talks, workshops and screenings, a networking programme promoting experimentation and collaborations, public interventions, parties and events. The festival brings together designers, artists, thinkers, researchers, activists and waste-management professionals to reach a wider audience. The organization wants the festival to act as a stimulus to exchange between designers, the waste-management industry, professionals and start-ups. The organization’s intention is to attract more than 9,000 visitors, to raise awareness of waste and its impact, and to increase and strengthen interest in design and innovative solutions. Wasteland will take place in The Hague from 10 to 26 November 2023.

Schemerlicht Festival 2023 – Stichting Schemerlicht
In this rapidly changing world, the comfortable position of humans – as the centre of everything – has come under pressure. For the necessary interpretation, people can turn to art and science. Stichting Schemerlicht believes in the meaningful coming together of the two to create awareness. In this way, Schemerlicht Festival 2023 is contributing to a creative society that is equipped to meet the challenges of the future. The programme is shaped by the collaboration between scientists and makers, starting with a three-day lab. Especially for Schemerlicht Festival 2023, they are creating audiovisual works using themes, data or techniques from nature. During 11 evenings in October, a route along these installations forms a Gesamtkunstwerk in the Goffertpark in Nijmegen. This year’s theme is Aarde Lagen (Earth Layers). Stichting Schemerlicht endeavours to build lasting relationships with partners in the region and with the public. The organization aims to reach a wide audience and welcome 7,500 visitors.

Africa is not a country – East Africa edition: Liquid Traces – Stichting Afro Vibes
Contemporary design, fashion and performing arts from Africa are attracting strong interest from young audiences, makers and designers in the diaspora and beyond who use or would like to use African influences in their work, according to Stichting Afro Vibes. The aim of Stichting Afro Vibes is to give design by contemporary African and Dutch artists and designers a permanent place in the festival Africa is not a country – East Africa edition: Liquid Traces. They see diversity as an important source of artistic innovation. The festival’s programme includes an exhibition of jewellery design from Zimbabwe in two cities, three fashion presentations by Dutch fashion designers in the diaspora, a residency
programme and discourse programmes with Dutch artists and designers in the diaspora and African artists. The programme of Africa is not a country – East Africa edition: Liquid Traces takes place between 4 and 15 October 2023 in theatres in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht and connects design with performing arts. Young Dutch designers and designers of colour present their work in a context with African makers and artists. The organization aims to increase interest in design, fashion and creative arts among their two main audiences. The programme contributes to a cultural debate about past and present and how collaborating with African makers and designers can change your perspective on the world.