Zondagochtend Responding to now

An inspiring and essential morning for creators, thinkers, students and anyone who wants to understand how art relates to today’s world. 

In a world marked by major social shifts, conflicts and a constant stream of information, we explore the role of the contemporary creator during an in-depth Sunday morning programme. How do artists respond to current events and the spirit of the times? As a creator, how do you deal with everything that is happening around us? And how do you translate that onto the stage?

We’ll be talking to three companies performing at Cultura Nova, each of which reflects on the ‘here and now’ from a completely different perspective. The Kronos Quartet (USA) offers a direct response to current events with their impressive performance: a musical reflection on war and conflict (Responding to War) that concludes with a plea for peace. Opera Compact challenges classical narratives and has deliberately chosen a female director for their multi-layered, new versionof Carmen. Directed by up-and-coming talent Eva Custers, the production shifts the perspective and shows how innocent victims fall in the clash between power and freedom. In the productionWAAN, music theatre company BOT dissectsthe human psyche. Battered by an excess of truths, BOT wonders what it is like to lose one’s grip on reality.

Led by programme curator Marsha Simon, who works for the Dutch Design Foundation amongst others, we will explore with these guests the art of responding, as well as the creative imperative and artistic responsibility of the creator in the 21st century. There will be plenty of scope for reflection, probing questions and interaction with the audience. 

This discussion will be partly in English / This meeting is partly in English.