The Performance
In progress 2025
As an artist, I organize art projects with others around social issues. This method is highly dependent on local participants. People like you and me who find it important to look for new future perspectives. In special forms of collaboration, experiments are organized that create new meaning.
In 2024, I spoke with many Krimpen residents about the realization of a lively village center. You can read more about this research here: 'cardio_vision'. It soon became clear that the municipality is making plans for the future, but is not the owner of "the village street" in the centre. The main property owner, a local baker's son, is not prepared to invest in the shopping centre 'De Crimpenhof'. The newspaper AD wrote that 23% of the retail space is vacant at the beginning of 2025, compared to 22% in 2024. The municipality must develop a new narrative for the centre where different stories can find a place, but today only one story dominates - that of a single property owner.
Residents shrug their shoulders at this situation. They feel they can't change much. The cultural and social organizations are active within their own frameworks. Everyone in the village center points at each other. No one moves. I developed 'The Performance' especially for this complex playing field.
This artistic plan requires the courage to work together on a new narrative. That is why I went to the cultural partners. A project group was set up at the municipality. Local companies and residents were approached. The people I speak to are nice and cautiously enthusiastic. But no one steps forward to give substance to 'The Performance' together. Many e-mails remain unanswered. "Come back when the plans are concrete", is often heard. If this continues, we cannot create new meaning.
'The Performance' wants to contribute to a new narrative that belongs to a vibrant village centre and makes the Raadhuisplein a "stage" for imagination. The people on the square change from "users" to "participants". This setting allows us to dance away the parked cars and wake up the property owners.
Where other villages are built around a church or characteristic square, the new centre of Krimpen is situated around a large car park. It feels as if the built "body" of Krimpen behind the dike, which once started as a ribbon village on the dike, lacks an appealing "face". While a human "Heart of Krimpen" cannot do without a face and vice versa.
Residents in Krimpen aan den IJssel would like a lively centre with terraces, a diverse range of shops and cultural organisations. Having something in common with someone goes beyond having a drink together on a terrace or doing some shopping at the DIRK. It requires an inviting and open outdoor space where a lot can happen. A "cultural construction site" where active "resident builders" can meet, to use the words of urban planner Lotte Stam-Beese (Reisicht, Silesia, 28 January 1903 - Krimpen aan den IJssel, 16 November 1988).
Krimpen aan den IJssel is home to 30,000 people, but is the village also being "built by residents"? Only together can we rethink the village square of the future.
Kind regards, Edwin Stolk.
Your (company) name here? Do not hesitate to contact me when you are interested to collaborate!
'The Performance' was mentioned in the following media: more info soon.
'The Performance' follows the concept behind: #theorganisation
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