13 Jun 2009

Belluard Festival in Fribourg, Switzerland

Belluard Bollwerk International is an arts festival that takes place every year at the beginning of the summer in Fribourg (CH). It has a history of having its own vision on actual artistic trends and showing work of local and international emerging artists in a convivial context. Hard to pin down the disciplines we are producing or presenting. Word says it is 'in between'. Which is at the same time complex, challenging and exciting.

The principal motives of the festival edition 2009 can be summarised in two words: economy and participation. It does not mean that the Belluard Bollwerk International strictly imposed a thematical corsage in which it tried to squeeze the artists. Rather, the program 2009 came about intuitively and organically, inspired by events, meetings, artistic proposals and discussions. They all led to an exciting balance between artistic projects that claim their autonomy, and projects showing the fundamental connections between artists and the world around them.

On October 5th 2008, the newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung publishes that Switzerland has the biggest concentrion of shopping centres per inhabitant in Europe. It is believed that Fribourg beats the Swiss record… Empty shop windows are spreading in Fribourg, according to La Liberté on April 28th 2009; a phenomenon also taking place in other cities.

In this given context, the Belluard Festival 2009 invites three artists and two artist duo's to open a shop in the city of Fribourg for a period of ten days. Their projects are a reflection about consumption, economical transaction and the economical position of artists.

At the Ancienne Gare, second festival centre and information office, the same questions are at the heart of several projects. Children between 6 and 12 years old present their entreprise idea's during a real fair. Two writers ask themselves if Switzerland is an entreprise or a state. A choreographer is demonstrating us how much a dance piece costs. A reverend tries to save us from the 'Shopocalyps'. And the unofficial Swiss Ministry of Culture is wondering if culture can save us from the crisis.

Can we, after all this, still laugh in times of crisis? A possible answer will be given in the shape of a performance, at the Belluard. In the medieval fortress, we will also show two brave pieces of artists who worked with non-professionals. And of course a musical programme will not be missing, with concerts that are unique in terms of sound and performance.

All this can be discussed in our new festival centre KITCHAIN, in the Arsenal. The polyvalent kitchen design allows to enjoy a meal prepared by our chefs. Furthermore, the audience can participate and cook themselves as well, with friends and artists.

FESTIVAL BELLUARD BOLLWERK INTERNATIONAL

25.6 - 4.7.09
Fribourg, SWITZERLAND

with: Anna Faroqhi, Johanna Lecklin, San Keller, Matsune & Subal, Andreas Vetterli & René Walker, Antonio Louro & Benedetta Maxia, Judith Wilske, Lukas Bärfuss, Jérôme Richer, Jochen Roller, Reverend Billy, Kulturministerium, Modified Toy Orchestra, Cezary Tomaszewski, André Duracell, Nada Gambier, Antonia Baehr, Chrome Hoof, ...