7-11 January 2011
Mario Frendo (artistic director of the international Malta Arts Festival, musician and lecturer in theatre studies at University of Malta) and Sean Buhagiar (arts Executive for the performing arts for the Arts Council) visited Utrecht. As always in a tight schedule it was a good introduction to cultural life and organisations. The focus was on cooperation and the cultural capital ambitions. Gertrud van Dam and Christa Stoop accompanied the guests on their journey through Utrecht…….. even on bikes!
Heart of the programme was Cultural Sunday, a one day festival paying attention to many disciplines. Because of the theme New Year's Dive ('re-start of cultural season') people actually dived in the canal… very cold! Watching dancers at Observatory Sonnenborgh and the Chopin etude marathon at the official University University Building was much warmer.
In many meetings several themes are being discussed. With Thera Jonker (HKU, university for applied arts, Faculty Theatre and other departments) we discussed internships and colleagual consultancy. With Maaike Bleeker (University of Utrecht, Theatre Studies) and Cobie de Vos (production house and theatre festival At the Wharfs) we discussed the festival Camillo 2.0, an international conference on performing arts, taking place in Utrecht 25-29 may.
Possibilities for having productions from Utrecht performed in Malta were discussed with Niek Idelenburg (Holland Opera). Focussing on a young audience they might perform 'Feeks' (revision of Shakespears Shrew with a jazz quartet) at the Summer Art Festival 2011. The same goes for Tjerk de Ridder (and his little dog). His road show tells the story of his journey along cultural capitals Essen, Pecs and Istanbul, hitchhiking with his ECoC-caravan and looking for a tow bar. This performance would help give content to the ECoC0-ambition in Malta.
The other way round - in the meeting with René van de Giessen and Britt Verstegen (Cultural Sundays) Maltese artists are mentioned to perform in Utrecht. We might even organise a special Cultural Sunday on Malta….!
Off course it's interesting for professionals to discuss organisation and daily hassles with colleagues. Policy making, dealing with budget cuts, discovering new audiences – these subjects were discussed with Renée Heijnen (dep. Cultural Affairs) and with Hildegard Draaiijer (dance groupe DOX) and Hans Blik (theatre groupe Het Lab). Both groups focussing on young talent they're about to merge into a new organisation. Meeting the Holland Baroque Society and Xavier Vandamme (director festival Early Music) was especially inspiring for involving early music to Malta.
The visit strengthened the relation between Malta and Utrecht. To be continued, for sure!
For more information please address to Gertrud van Dam and Christa Stoop.
