Openbare Werken 2025
09 - 18.05.2025
artists playing in and around the city
The art festival openbare werken invites you to (re)discover the city. Art practices emerge in places where you don't always expect them. Artists embrace the margins, connect with what already exists, and challenge the dominant currents of the city. The festival highlights these quirky creators. They engage with public space, explore relationships, and take root in squares - with the swamp as an undercurrent and nourishment and kinship as a common thread.
DAILY OVERVIEW OF THE FESTIVAL
Prélude | fr 09 until mo 12.09
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Network day: A Day of Kinship
For artists, cultural workers and anybody who feels called09.05For artists, cultural workers and anybody who feels called
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Open Atelier
Lucinda RaDiscover the world of Lucinda Ra10.05Discover the world of Lucinda Ra at Museum Dr. Guislain
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Hold on to her
Robin VanbesienA documentary about a people's tribunal following the death of Mawda Shari during a migration border control10.05A documentary about a people's tribunal following the death of Mawda Shari during a migration border control
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Breaking Bread. A new contract for Syllabus.
Jesse Jones, Fiona Hallinan, Jennie Moran en Malaika CunninghamA ritual signing of the new Syllabus Contract12.05A ritual signing of the new Syllabus Contract
Tuesday 13 May
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Verzameling van de onverzamelden
Laure MachtelinckxReflections and stories on architecture, place and history13.05Collection of the uncollected
A tour – or perhaps a walking guide.
A building block, a field, a line, a book
Inner courtyard, outer courtyard, a garden. -
Officiële opening van het festival
Tot in de stad!Joyful opening of the festival!13.05Joyful opening of the festival!
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Everything Under
Mark PožlepA night water caravan13.05A night water caravan
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Dienst Woorden / Words Service
Sarah VanheeFor all the words that you cannot find, or have lost13.05For all the words that you cannot find, or have lost
Wednesday 14 May
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Meerstemmig cureren
Openbare Werken & KunstenpuntAn insight into the co-curation process of openbare werken14.05An insight into the co-curation process of openbare werken
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Muide-Moskou
manoeuvreArtistic encounters aboard trams and buses14.05Artistic encounters aboard trams and buses
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De toekomst in actie (The future in action)
We Sell RealityProtest signs for children's issues14.05Protest signs for children's issues
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What has been stored (work in progress)
Jimena Pérez SalernoExplore motherhood through movement and voice14.05Explore motherhood through movement and voice
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Verzameling van de onverzamelden
Laure MachtelinckxReflections and stories on architecture, place and history14.05Collection of the uncollected
A tour – or perhaps a walking guide.
A building block, a field, a line, a book
Inner courtyard, outer courtyard, a garden. -
60 degrees of separation
Camille Paycha14.05 -
Hamdam
A jam session to make music, dance, or simply listen and watch14.05A jam session to make music, dance, or simply listen and watch
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Everything Under
Mark PožlepA night water caravan14.05A night water caravan
Thursday 15 May
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Atlas of Ovens: Companionships
Ciel Grommen, Maximiliaan Royakkers & Clémentine VaultierCelebrate the oven15.05 -
Muide-Moskou
manoeuvreArtistic encounters aboard trams and buses15.05Artistic encounters aboard trams and buses
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Tafelen
Anna SchloozDining together about what care means – and what family can be15.05Dining together about what care means – and what family can be
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These roots never blossomed
Sana GhobbehLooking for the link between the Belgian and Iranian sugar industries15.05Looking for the link between the Belgian and Iranian sugar industries
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Jozef Wouters / Decoratelier
The Soft LayerA reworking of the poetic renovation of an Ottoman palace in Tunis15.05This spring, Jozef Wouters / Decoratelier brings 'The Soft Layer' back to life. These performances are a continuation of The Soft Layer (Tunis), a site-specific work that took place from 2017 to 2019 in the historic building Dar Bairam Turki in Tunis, as part of the Dream City Biennale.
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Hold on to her
Robin VanbesienA documentary about a people's tribunal following the death of Mawda Shari during a migration border control15.05A documentary about a people's tribunal following the death of Mawda Shari during a migration border control
Friday 16 May
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Ways of inhabiting the Symbiocene
SDG ActielabCome and see, listen, and help build the Symbiocene!16.05Come and see, listen, and help build the Symbiocene!
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Moeder Vooruit en haar kinderen
JubileeA walk through Ghent's cooperative past16.05A walk through Ghent's cooperative past
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Tune In Radio Poort: panelgesprek
Radio PoortA conversation about the role of a physical place16.05A conversation about the role of a physical place
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Blueprint + City of Progress
Justin BennetAn animated film with live music16.05An animated film with live music
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Publiek Plan
Elly Van Eeghem & CAMPUSatelierWat als een stadsplan groeit vanuit onze persoonlijke beleving van de publieke ruimte?16.05What if a city plan grows from our personal experience of public space?
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The Scope of Stories, Tracing Vernacular Landscapes
An exhibition about the state of affairs regarding art in the countryside16.05 -
Jozef Wouters / Decoratelier
The Soft LayerA reworking of the poetic renovation of an Ottoman palace in Tunis16.05This spring, Jozef Wouters / Decoratelier brings 'The Soft Layer' back to life. These performances are a continuation of The Soft Layer (Tunis), a site-specific work that took place from 2017 to 2019 in the historic building Dar Bairam Turki in Tunis, as part of the Dream City Biennale.
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Ciné Rio & Openbare werken
Drijf InUnique cinema on the waters of Ghent!16.05
Saturday 17 May
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Muide-Moskou
manoeuvreArtistic encounters aboard trams and buses17.05Artistic encounters aboard trams and buses
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Ways of inhabiting the Symbiocene
SDG ActielabCome and see, listen, and help build the Symbiocene!17.05Come and see, listen, and help build the Symbiocene!
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The Scope of Stories, Tracing Vernacular Landscapes
An exhibition about the state of affairs regarding art in the countryside17.05-25.05 -
Tune in Radio Poort
PresentatieSounds from the Brugse Poort17.05 -
Pretend it's a toilet
Sara LeghissaA graphic, light yet also political performance about power relations in public space17.05A graphic, light yet also political performance about power relations in public space
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FAT BOY
Jong GeweiListen to the words burning on the lips of a new generation: what keeps them up at night?17.05Words like bullets, rhyme as resistance, togetherness and a new imagination as antidote
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Portretten
Villa VoortmanDance solos from visitors of Villa Voortman17.05Dance solos from visitors of Villa Voortman
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El Viaje
CARDELLINI | GONZALEZA group journey to a nearby “island”17.05A group journey to a nearby “island”
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City Parade
dakdakA parade through Ghent17.05A parade through Ghent
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Daisy Ray x CAMPUSatelier
A kind of folk festival through the city17.05Daisy waits patiently in the waiting house for the pancake cart that arrives on May 17.
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Midnight Marsh: een potluck onder de stadshal
Malaika Cunningham, Jennie Moran, Zoë Laureen Palmer, James CookA potluck under the City Hall17.05A potluck under the City Hall
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Ciné Rio & Openbare werken
Drijf InUnique cinema on the waters of Ghent!17.05
Sunday 18 May
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The Scope of Stories, Tracing Vernacular Landscapes
An exhibition about the state of affairs regarding art in the countryside17.05-25.05 -
Open Atelier
manoeuvre met Jakob Van den Broucke en Kasper DemeulemeesterCome taste, talk, participate, watch, and think18.05Come taste, talk, participate, watch, and think
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Ways of inhabiting the Symbiocene
SDG ActielabCome and see, listen, and help build the Symbiocene!18.05Come and see, listen, and help build the Symbiocene!
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Soil Sunday
Back2SoilBasics & Crip Earth (Re)GenerationConnection to the ground as a form of resistance18.05Connection to the soil as a form of resistance
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El Viaje
CARDELLINI | GONZALEZA group journey to a nearby “island”18.05A group journey to a nearby “island”
FESTIVAL HUB (Bar Edward)
The HUB is the meeting point of the festival. It is located in Bar Edward (Speldenstraat 1, 9000 Ghent). You can continuously listen to a podcast about art in public space, watch the work of Elen Braga & manoeuvre, or see the film by Juliette Guimet. Maker-collector Jaco Sette brings his mobile kitchen.
Continuous in the HUB
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Ramener: faire revenir au lieu qu’il avait quitté
Juliette Guimet13.05-17.05 -
Think Tank Experiencing Art in Public Space
Podcast: Kinship & participation13.05-17.05 -
Vest 2022
Elen Braga & manoeuvre13.05-17.05 -
Mobiele keuken
Jaco Sette13.05-17.05
ACCESS
Hier vind je een overzicht van alle locaties. We vullen de toegankelijkheidsinformatie per locatie hieronder zo snel mogelijk aan.
- Bakkerij Aernoudt - Dulle-Grietlaan 9, 9050 Gentbrugge
- Blanco, Coupure rechts 308, 9000 Gent
- CAMPO victoria - Fratersplein 7, 9000 Gent
> informatie toegankelijkheid - CAMPUSatelier, Rerum Novarumplein 10, 9000 Gent
- de Koer - Meibloemstraat 86, 9000 Gent
- Dienst Feesten en Ambulante Handel - Wiedauwkaai 49a, 9000 Gent
- Emile Braunplein (grasveld), 9000 Gent
- Hartetroef - Heilig-Hartplein, 9040 Sint-Amandsberg
- Hof te Nieuwenhove - Moutstraat 29, 9500 Zarlardinge (Geraardsbergen)
- Houtdok, 9000 Gent
- Kunsthal Gent - Lange Steenstraat 14, 9000 Gent
- Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER - Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23, 9000 Gent
> informatie toegankelijkheid - manoeuvre - Bomastraat 35, 9000 Gent
- Maakplek LUCA School of Arts - Leiekaai 18, 9000 Gent
- Museum Dr. Guislain - Jozef Guislainstraat 43B, 9000 Gent
- SMØRBRØD - Guldenspoorstraat 29, 9000 Gent
- Stadshal - Poeljemarkt, 9000 Gent
- Studio Skoop - Sint-Annaplein 63, 9000 Gent
> informatie toegankelijkheid - weder - Beekstraat 1, 9030 Mariakerke
- Wetterse Bakkerij - Sint-Salvatorstraat 63, 9000 Gent
PARTNERS
Public works are organized by Tot in de City!. This is a collaboration between VIERNULVIER, de Koer, Kunsthal Gent, Manoeuvre, CAMPUSatelier, Jong Gewei, KASK & Conservatorium School of Arts, and LUCA School of Arts. Together, they support artistic practices that engage in dialogue with residents and the environment, working bottom-up from what already exists and questioning the city in all its complexity.
With the support of the Flemish Government
Thanks to:
019, AZ Sint-Lucas, Blanco/Nucleo, CAMPO, CIFAS, Ciné Rio, City of Ghent's Department of Festivals and Street Trade, Hof Te Nieuwenhove, Arts platform PLAN B, Kunstenpunt, Lucinda Ra, Museum Dr. Guislain, PostX, Reno Boot, Studio Skoop, UGent, Villa Voortman, others,...
Graphic design: Sofie Deckers
"Staying with the trouble means making (odd)kin; that is, we require each other in unexpected collaborations and combinations - between humans and non-humans - in hot compost piles. We become - with each other or not at all." - Donna Haraway