Tine

This is our public worker Tine! She explores what people need to feel welcome with us.

"As an audience worker, I bring together all the people who come into Arts Centre VIERNULVIER. What do you need to participate in culture? Everyone has different needs, and I explore them."

"When I started here in 2017, my position did not yet exist. Meanwhile, I have focused on a number of issues, such as the launch of a Young Board and a broad accessibility policy. For instance, some performances are provided with an interpreter or live audio description. Also, all 'OUTDOOR' evenings are 'relaxed performances', meaning you are allowed to react spontaneously during the performance and leave the room at any time. I also organise feel tours, on which spectators with disabilities are allowed to touch the stage so that they can get an idea of the set and attire.
"There is space here to explore things like gender-inclusive toilets or build out a silent room. This is very important and valuable, because our programme only starts to come alive the moment you are in the room. That's when the magic happens: as soon as the curtain opens, all kinds of emotions are released. Managing to get people in touch with that: that's the best thing about my job."

One project that will always stay with Tine is 'All The Sex I've Ever Had'.
"That was a performance by a Canadian company in which over-65s talk openly about their sex lives. I had a month to look for local over-65s who were up for talking about it. And they succeeded! The openness with which they talked about it was touching. One of them was a 92-year-old man who had been very sexually active throughout his life - it was the time when it was not abnormal to have other relationships besides marriage. When he was narrating, you noticed that the younger audience had to adjust their perception of the sex life of older people (laughs). There was also a woman who talked about how her sexuality had changed since she was blind. That openness was beautiful. The preconception that older people are prudish is not true at all, and I thought it was special to impart that to the audience."

We close with Tine's favourite place in De Vooruit.
"The corridor to the Theatre Hall! When I walk there, I feel best what this building means. That corridor is a historic place, because everything is still bang the same as it was 100 years ago. It makes me feel warm every time to feel the spirit of De Vooruit. At the same time, you are also on your way to something there: to the magic of a performance."