Workshop – Het Laagland: The Meaning of Home
How can an artist establish a long-term, meaningful presence within a neighbourhood?
In this workshop, theatre professionals from theatre company Het Laagland share
experiences from their artistic project in Geleen-Zuid. Here, they have been present
since 2020, residing in a fixed workplace at the heart of the neighbourhood. First this
was an apartment in one of the apartment blocks, now it is the former janitor’s
residence at the local high school.
In collaboration with housing corporation ZOwonen, Het Laagland has developed a
sustainable, co-creative artistic ecosystem: ZuidZone. Residents, referred to as
wijkmakers (community makers), work in equal partnership with professional artists.
Wijkmakers are actively involved in researching, creating and presenting theatre,
music, radio, photography and visual art. Topics and art styles emerge from important
issues within the neighbourhood and are collectively translated into artistic projects.
This workshop not only focuses on the methodology of ZuidZone, but on experiencing
the practice itself. Participants will work alongside wijkmakers using exercises and
working methods drawn directly from Het Laagland’s creative process. Through this
hands-on approach co-creation, equality and impact become tangible, while also
offering insights into what this method entails for artists, organisations and
collaborative partners.
The workshop provides professionals with practical tools, experiences and critical
reflection on how ‘being at home’ can serve as an artistic position, and how long-term
presence can contribute to artistic quality, engagement and social impact
Het Laagland | Workshop | Limburg, Nederland