projectplan

Tilburg Triangle 2011

International Art Meeting in Tilburg

Project plan

Triangle Arts Trust is an international network in which artists organize residencies and workshops with the aim of promoting international artistic mobility, commitment to experiment and ‘fresh thinking’. Nearly 60 workshops with over 3000 participating artists have already taken place in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. And always the result was: new connections, international cross-overs and a constant flow of new initiatives. In August 2011, the Tilburg Triangle Art Meeting will take place in the Spoorzone (Railway Zone) in Tilburg.

Triangle Arts Trust is a global organization founded by Anthony Caro and Robert Loder in 1982. Tilburg Triangle will connect with Triangle Arts Trust, but in line with the vision of the Trust, it will have its own organization and will be tailored to the own situation.

The Railway Zone (Spoorzone) in Tilburg

In 2011 the former NS Werkspoor site (later called Nedtrain), located in the center of Tilburg, will move its working activities. A huge area of old industrial heritage with a modern future, is now a no man's land, waiting for new ideas. Tilburg Triangle is not organized in just a place. NS Werkspoor guaranteed mobility in the Netherlands for many years. The material of the Dutch Railways was repaired, maintained and partly built here. The 75 acres large area with its impressive industrial heritage is a beautiful scenery and an inspiring setting for this workshop.

The Railway Zone will be the new vibrant cultural heart of Tilburg, with space for artists, theater, perhaps a library, new residents and new business. At Tilburg Triangle the past, present and future of the Railway Zone will be ‘in the picture'. 20 International artists come together to talk about the area, to work, to investigate the stories buried here and the future that has to be built. The artists give shape to the soul of the Railway Zone, and give the city an idea of what was and can be.

Brief plan

In August 2011, the 20 artists from various parts of the world with different cultural backgrounds come together in one location in the Railway Zone in Tilburg. They stay there for a period of three weeks, they investigate this place and respond to it in their work. The organization makes connections to other cities in the province of Brabant, for instance to be able to use workshops and facilities there in carrying out plans of the artists. Education is explicitly involved in the project. During the work period there will be a symposium on how artists think about the modern city and its hidden past. The work period ends with a public presentation, and a publication in which the Tilburg Railway Zone functions as an international studio.

Occasion

Tilburg Triangle is an initiative of Rob Moonen and is organized by Rob Moonen, René Korten and Theo Andriessen in collaboration with the city of Tilburg and several other partners. René Korten and Rob Moonen, artists residing in Tilburg, took part in various international meetings and workshops in different parts of the world, including workshops organized by the Triangle Arts Trust in South Africa and Australia. From personal experience they know that such a workshop can be of great value not only for the participating artists but also for the community in which it occurs. That’s why they commit themselves to organizing such a workshop in Tilburg.

Purpose

Participants are invited to participate in the intense dynamic that occurs when artists are working in close proximity in a stimulating environment. Besides the fact that the participants will study the area, there is room for exchange of ideas and experience on the art practice that is conducted within their own culture and new informal/formal networks will come into existence.

The artists are guests in Tilburg, they immerse themselves in the Railway Zone and its environment and they react with their work. This will bring surprising images and lead to new insights into the city, its history and its future, and provide inspiration for future design and layout of the Railway Zone. Side effect is that the artists who have had this experience in Tilburg will be ambassadors for the city on the global map.

Participating artists

The number of participating artists is 20. Half of them are from various European countries, the other half from countries outside Europe. The participating artists are selected based on the following criteria:

- Quality of their art practice

- Experience in participating in workshops and international exchanges

- Willingness to spend three weeks to live and work in Tilburg

- Show affinity to create artworks in a context

- Skill to create work in situ within the period of 3 weeks by analyzing the site-specific qualities

- Readiness to do lectures about the work and/or participate in the symposium of the project

Internationalization

Tilburg Triangle brings many artists together to underline the meaning of Tilburg as a network city. By committing itself to this project the city of Tilburg becomes part of a global network that promotes the exchange of arts and culture.

The White Pages, Railway Zone in Focus

The first phase of the project involves the composition of the so-called White Pages, a reader, a Textbook, coupled with a website. It explains the background to the project and maps the area. It will provide insight into the origin and history of the Railway Zone, in its people, its economic significance, its development opportunities and the aspirations of the city with the area.

The reader will not only be a handbook for artists but for anyone interested in the Railway Zone. The reader will therefore initially hold literally a large number of blank pages. This may serve as the participating artists’s sketchbook, but can also be provided with content by others (essayists, urban planners etc.). Interested persons and invitees make their contributions, the participating artists can be followed and finally after the work period their findings will be documented here. Gradually, the reader will be increasingly larger and widely variegated. Ultimately after the work period the document is printed and as such it reflects the whole project.

Symposium: The Modern City and Its Hidden Past

Part of the Tilburg Triangle Art Meeting is an international symposium about the artist as designer of the Modern City and Its Hidden Past. International speakers will make the connection between contemporary art practice and urban design, between design of public space and art in public space. It will zoom in on the significance of the past and the cultural and industrial heritage and on the heritage of the landscape. How can that heritage give meaning and substance to the modern city and its design?

Partnerships

Workshops that can be found in the province like Grafisch Atelier Daglicht (printmaking) and Kunstenaarswerkplaats Beeldenstorm (foundry) in Eindhoven, Grafisch Atelier (printmaking) Den Bosch and EKWC ( ceramics) in 's-Hertogenbosch and workshops at Fontys University of The Arts and Audax Textiel Museum ( digital textile workshop) in Tilburg will be involved in the practical support of the artists and their projects. Participating artists may give short lectures at Fontys University of the Arts and its students can assist the artists in the development of their projects. The organization of the symposium will be supported by BKKC (buro for knowlegde in arts and culture) and CAST ( centre for cityplanning and architecture).

Timeline

January 2010-January 2011 - Fundraising

April - November 2010 - Composition The White Pages

November 2010 - Presentation first version The White Pages

December 2010 - Selection artists

January 2011 - Invitation of artists with specification of duties

March 2011 - Processing the feedback of artists

July 2011 - Preparation Art Meeting

September/Oktober 2011 - Implementation