This year’s ricca ricca*festa festival will focus on theatre for children and young audiences in Flanders, a Dutch-speaking region in the north of Belgium.
Flanders is geographically located in the heart of Western Europe and is widely known as a crossroads for different cultures and languages, flourishing in the development of arts and by absorbing these various cultural elements that have passed through the region, perhaps to a greater extent than its larger neighbouring countries.
Internationally recognised for diversity and and experimentation, especially since the early eighties, its field of arts has continuously produced outstanding art across disciplines. Presumably, this is because the field is supported by close networks and collaborations that consist of many integrated large and small organisations, creating an environment for exchanges, vitality and high quality art as a whole to grow within the sector.
The arts scene in Flanders is also often characterised by innovations that blur the distinction between theatre, dance and music. At this ricca ricca*festa symposium we would like to introduce three productions that explore the reasons behind this innovative and creative art sector by talking to Flemish theatre and festival directors and artists.
Coordinator:
Tamayo Okano
Tamayo Okano has lived in Belgium since 1995. After studying at P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels, she worked as a dancer and actor, mainly in Flanders. She currently leads international communications at ricca ricca*festa.
Panelist:
Julie Verdickt
Bookings and International Relations at hetpaleis, Antwerp
Organiser:
ACO Okinawa in partnership with The Flemish Government.
