Do we belong here?

“In a society based on speed and productivity, moving slowly is a radical act.” (Yung Pueblo)

Join us for the cosy gathering ‘DO WE BELONG HERE?’ at Bureau Europa in Maastricht, on the 19th of October from 12pm onwards – one day to enjoy poetry & art, reconnecting with your creativity offline.

This event, a spin-off event of the festival ‘To whom does the City belong?’ taking place in 2025, has been created to offer, inhabitants, students and visitors of Maastricht, a glimpse of the ‘vita contemplativa’ – a lifestyle that is crucial for our well-being, often overlooked in our fast-paced society.

Where do you belong? How do you relate to the spaces in which you live? 

Disconnect from technology, slow down.

Reconnect with others and the spaces you live in through words, images and feelings. Re-engage your inner artistic talent, discovering how different people question their sense of belonging, and give value to their surroundings.

Walk inside whenever you can and stay for as long as you want. Sit down, take a nap, read, talk, listen or watch.

Seize the opportunity to leave your frenetic and distracted lifestyle at the door.

Throughout the day, thanks to immersive participatory installations and live poetry performances you, inhabitants, students and visitors have the opportunity to be inspired, feel connected and share your stories in relation to the spaces in which you live. 

Programme

12:00-21:00 | ‘To whom does the city belong?’, Participatory Installation inspired by Yoko Ono
| OFFLINE AREA, Open to all, kids, families and every human and non-human beings

12:00 | Open Doors – opening speech
14:00  |  Poetry Reading by Elisa Verkoelen
16:00 | ‘Harvest’ by artist Joep Caenen, Performative and Participatory Installation
19:00-21:00 | ‘Ave Maria II’, Live Poetry event, curated by Lars den Hertog: 5 artists, performing in their own language + Open stage

Line up

Denis Pepic
LOMIN
Shari Da Tòs
Francisco Santos Silva
LDH

Curated and produced by The Artist and the Others, this event is possible thanks to the support of Bureau Europa & Stichting Edmond Hustinx un Het Cultuurfonds.