About + Contact
©Tim Wouters

MISSION

wpZimmer is an international artistic workspace where development of the artistic practice is at the centre point. We offer time and space for in depth and unconditioned research for both artists and art workers. By centering development, we are committed to the empowerment of the artist. wpZimmer is an anti-disciplinary house – we look at work and research with an open mind as it’s always the artistic question that leads us, never the final form. The collaborations we enter into with artists, partners, but also with each other as a team are rooted in reciprocity and transparency. and in tune with the residency we have the trajectory as supposed to with the last year in tune with today we regret this as well

What does wpZimmer do?

The operation of wpZimmer has three main focus points: we offer residencies, we work on long-term collaborations with artists in the form of development or production products and finally we co-organise presentation contexts. Our Learnscape program runs through these three focus points.

As an arts organisation in the current social and ecological context we embrace a learning position, we formulate this as the “Learnscape” or landscape of learning. The Learnscape can be compared to the mycelial threads that connect the trees in the forest. Largely invisible, through the Learnscape we seek to create a place where we learn how to share leadership and knowledge, develop honest practices and reciprocity. Trajectory artists, staff, residents are encouraged to shape and participate in this landscape, but the Learnscape also actively opens up to a wider community and audience.

Multiple lived perspectives are needed to grasp reality and take responsibility. We depart from traditional power structures within arts organisations because we see the rebalancing of power balances as a great necessity. In order to be a place that supports both formal and informal relationships of exchange, care, responsibility and artistic development, we opt for multi-voicedness. The leadership of wpZimmer is currently in the hands of two people: Helga Baert and Gosie Vervloessem and the curation and evolution of the organisation is actively transparant towards all staff, artists and guest curators.

Are you looking for a residency?

When it comes to residencies, we work with an Open Call. The next Open Call will be communicated in January 2023.

A residency at wpZimmer means:

  • minimum 2 weeks to 1 month of residency
  • 24 hours on 24 use of the studio or atelier and technical material
  • A place to sleep, lunch and cook
  • Residency fee between 1000 and 2000 €.
  • wpZimmer team is available for artistic feedback, business advice, production support, technical assistance, set construction, etc.
  • Communication about your artistic work and residency (video interview, texts, photos, etc.).
  • Possibility to close a residency period with an informal showcase
  • Invitation to participate in the Learnscape via ‘Last Month Tonight’.
    We take into account practical and logistical needs and inhibitions for mobility. We can offer support in finding local medical support (e.g. dialysis, physiotherapy, etc), we have facilities for artists with children, we support artists in applying for visas or other documents, …

For questions not related to applying for residency, you can still write, email or call us.

Some tips:
* Provide information about your background and work;
* Describe the project you would like to talk about (concept, team, partners);
* Make clear what you expect or need (from us) (in this case, no residency);
* Any form of engagement is preceded by a thorough introduction (interview, performance, video, …)
Contact: helga@wpzimmer.be

Network

wpZimmer has both feet firmly in the arts. Working with artists on a daily basis, we are constantly expanding our network of national and international organizations. Our first direct partners are the arts centres, cultural centres and festivals at home and abroad.

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WEB

WEB is an answer to the need for better joint efforts and partnership within the performing arts, particularly in terms of exchange, research, production and presentation.

WEB is an international network which brings together workspaces, arts centres and festivals in order to reinforce each other across the national borders. The aim is to give integral support to two artists per year. The focus is on upcoming artists on the verge of an international breakthrough.

WEB provides the artist full support from “A to Z”. The partners guarantee space for research and creation through a series of residencies. They offer financial, logistical, and technical support. They give administrative back-up and artistic feedback during the creation process. Each collaboration culminates in a series of presentations, inside and outside of the network.

WEB is an initiative of:             Beursschouwburg – Brussels (B)

                                                     wpZimmer – Antwerp (B)

                                                     Frascati – Amsterdam (NL)

                                                     Uzès Danse – Uzès (F)

                                                     Le Vivat – Armentières (F)

                                                     Gessnerallee (CH)

                                                     Fierce Festival – Birmingham (UK)

                                                     Schwankhalle – Bremen (D)

                                                     Göteborgs Dans & Teaterfestival – Göteborg (SE)

WEB bets on the differences and the complementarity between the partners in terms of available work space, financial resources, presentation contexts, administrative know-how, technical competences and dramaturgical experience.

WEB sometimes opens up to temporary alliances with an extra ‘libero’ partner. Preference is given to partners that are not too obvious, and for whom the collaboration with WEB can generate a big surplus value.

Productions made with the support of the network receive the label WEB followed by two numbers.

WEB 2.6. refers to the second project supported by six WEB-partners.

C-TAKT

C-Takt is an international research and development platform for transdisciplinary art in and out the theatre. C-Takt was initiated in 2017 from the merger between the workspace of C-Mine (Genk) and Takt Dommelhof (Neerpelt). The platform works on a structural basis together with wpZimmer, 0090, SOAP, Musica and In Situ.

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History

Since 2001 wpZimmer has been housed in a building in the multicultural neighborhood of Antwerp North, on the border of the working-class districts of Stuivenberg and Seefhoek. The building in the Gasstraat, located at the numbers 88-90, is recognizable on the street side by the large iron blue gate. Once behind this gate you will find yourself in a real little cité, typical of this old working-class area.

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