Who does the city belong to? This question lies at the heart of the art project The uprising of the façades by Thomas Verstraeten. A façade on the Vrijdagmarkt and a façade in the Brugse Poort neighbourhood are meticulously reconstructed and placed in front of their originals. On Saturday 12 September, the façades break away from their houses and are loaded onto large trucks. They then make their way towards each other in a festive procession, each accompanied by 500 local residents and musicians. Eventually, the façade from the Vrijdagmarkt ends up in the Brugse Poort, while the façade from the Brugse Poort arrives at the Vrijdagmarkt. There, they are rebuilt, surrounded by a celebrating crowd.

By swapping the façades, we bridge the gap between the tourist backdrop of an increasingly anonymous city centre and the vibrant energy of the outer neighbourhoods. The result is a powerful gesture of both resistance and connection. We give the city back to the people who live there.

Would you like to claim your place in the city and be seen, together with the façade from Fonteineplein? Or would you like to join the façade from the Vrijdagmarkt in search of greater diversity and connection? Join the parade on 12 September and take part in the procession accompanying the exchange of the façades from 11 am to 1 pm.

Why take part?

• You will be part of a unique art project in public space
• You will contribute to a story about the city, its residents and their place within it
• You will experience a day that no one will soon forget

What will you do?

You will walk alongside a truck carrying one of the façades, accompanying it through the city together with others. Halfway through, you will meet the other procession, carrying the other façade. The façades are exchanged and you will return to the starting point with the other façade.

Along the way, there will be a few simple activities:

• moving together
• singing a simple song (if you like)
• playing along on a portable instrument (if you like)

Everyone can take part. You will receive clear instructions through flags and guidance along the way.

Who is it for?

Everyone is welcome. No experience is required. Feel free to bring your neighbours, children, pets... along.

You can take part if you:

• can cover approximately 3 km (wheelchairs, pushchairs... are absolutely welcome!)
• feel like experiencing something together
• are happy to follow simple instructions

To make sure everything runs smoothly, there will be one rehearsal that everyone is required to attend:
Friday 11 September from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Location in Ghent, to be confirmed

The procession on Saturday 12 September will follow the schedule below:

• 9:30 am: gather at the departure points
• 10:30 am: take up positions
• 11:00 am: start of the procession
• 1:00 pm: finish with lunch
  

I want to sign up

Any questions?

Contact us via vonk@operaballet.be