Antwerp’s neighbourhood festival celebrates the young at art
The outdoor festival at Antwerp’s Mechelseplein features young up-and-coming artists, plus healthy food and fun activities in a relaxed summer atmosphere
To the square, everyone!
Next weekend the performing arts organisation specialised in the production and presentation of contemporary arts for children and young adults invites the whole neighbourhood (and beyond) to gather in the square for Mechelsepleinfeesten. The festivities date back to a goodbye party that was organised for actor Jan Decleir, who was leaving as the director of the art school in 2004. After a sabbatical, the event has been revitalised by De Studio with a pleasant mix of summer activities such as barbecues, picnics, a flea market and plenty of theatre, dance and live music.
De Studio will collaborate with the Stalker collective, which will ensure plenty of healthy food and provide a cosy, informal environment, decorating the square with long dinner tables and even organising a table tennis and a Twister tournament. But of course, from the opening on Thursday afternoon to the Saturday night Johnny Attack party, the main spotlight will be on a new generation of actors and dancers.
But there’s more than just newbies launching their careers. The Antwerp theatre company SkaGeN, will stage their new performance Zeestuk (Sea Piece) before the official opening this summer at Theater Aan Zee in Ostend.
Activities take place not only on the square: Visitors can enjoy an opera or concert by the experimental Brussels drone duo Razen in the nearby Sint-Joris church or join a not-so-conventional guided tour in the Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
23-25 June, Mechelseplein, Antwerp
