As part of a creative exchange in the months leading up to ICAF, the Paulus Church from Rotterdam and Hobson Street Theatre Company from Auckland, New Zealand have been developing an artistic presentation together. Hobson Street Theatre Company is the first and only theatre company with and for homeless people in New Zealand. It was founded in 2010 as a place where people who experience homelessness in and around Auckland could explore their creativity and share their stories. In The Netherlands The Paulus Church in Rotterdam is recognised as an important sanctuary and safe haven for people that suffer from addiction or psychiatric problems, elderly and homeless people, labor migrants and vulnerable young people. Before the festival, the two organisations have been exchanging artistic material via ZOOM and e-mail.
As a continuation of this exchange trajectory, from Thursday 23rd March, for six days, the two organisations will come together physically at the Paulus Church to produce a full program of participatory artistic workshops ranging from writing, to photography, to music, to theatre, where participants will explore their personal stories, dreams and desires connected to this festival edition’s theme “The Sound of Change”.
With an emphasis on “encounter”, facilitated by the teachers and artists connected with Paulus Church and Hobson Street Theatre, each of the workshops will provide the space and means for connections, moment of inspiration, and a series of inspirational moments to bring together the methodologies and working practices of these two vital organisations.