Night Shift at Opera Ghent won’t take place. While we are saddened not to be able to open this precious project to all of you, we understand that our task now is to take care of each other and ourselves. This process has been rich, confronting and energizing. Even without a public moment, we couldn’t feel more grateful for what this time has taught us. Every minute was worth it. After today we continue the road, keep looking for spaces to share and won’t stop creating common ground. Now, more than ever, we need these spaces.
Our warmest thanks to everyone who is involved in Night Shift. We take rest now, but can’t wait to meet our futures.
Gouvernement lets the interdisciplinary platform Night Shift seep into the iconic building of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Ghent, and in doing so also concludes the first edition of the city festival NO(W)WORRIES.
In anticipation of this Night Shift edition, business as usual seemed impossible. Upon quickly realising this, Gouvernement radically opened the platform to others, inviting six collectives to shape the event together. This extraordinary edition evolved from the ensuing conversation between Gouvernement, Bebe Books, House of Lux, La ‘S’ Grand Atelier / Post Animale, Leaving Living Dakota, Mama’s Open Mic, Zuidpark and three musicians of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. Gathering on a weekly basis, they developed a set of shared values. This common ground enabled them to build a shared Night Shift in which exchange could take on a central role while each practice maintained its autonomy. The key question promptly arose: How can we make space for each other?
Not only do the collectives show their own work, but, in turn, they also create space for other artists they’ve invited. In this way, Night Shift transforms into a platform for dialogues between radically different artists from various disciplines. These differences aren’t hidden away or neglected. On the contrary, they act as the driving force behind the event. For three days, the opera functions as a shared refuge for some of the most diverse artists. Their works contradict and question each other critically, but now and then, when unexpected, they also rhyme beautifully. Furthermore, the collectives actively engage in conversations with opera as a building, art form and tradition. Their actions then also relate to that framework, partly by initiating collaborations with in-house artists as well as by entering into a dialogue with the spatiality, atmosphere and different meanings inherent in the institution.
The scenography created by Decoratelier actively catalyzes the negotiations with the opera and physically embodies the key question about making space. By shifting the focus and generating intimate spatial situations, two installations – one in the peristyle and the other in the auditorium – help make the opera more manageable and approachable. The interventions in these central locations trigger potential and inspiring in-between spaces where the world of the collectives and that of the opera can intersect. This allows for new understandings to appear and unanticipated possibilities to pop up. Just like Night Shift as a whole, these installations don’t oppose the institution but rather carve out spaciousness within that same institute allowing for diverse artistic ecosystems to equally meet.
The stamp is clear and visible
the marks are made
the night shift is irreversible.
© Leontien Allemeersch
Night Shift is an initiative by Gouvernement in collaboration with Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Arts Centre Vooruit, d e t h e a t e r m a k e r and Decoratelier, and supported by the Vlaamse Overheid / Flemish government, Stad Gent / Cultuur Gent and Amplo.
Night Shift is also the cherry on top of the first edition of NO(W)WORRIES, a brand new city festival.
Night Shift graphic design is by Golce Dabanna
A warm thank you to:
Aaron Shaw, Abdelhakim El Mahi, Aladdine3000, Anaïd Ferte, Ann Vancoillie, Anne-Sophie Menschaert, Annelien Derycke, Arnaud Eubelen, Astrid Tinel, Awoulath Algoubin, Barbara Massart, Bart D’haene, Bebe Books, Bert Serneels, Bram Deheyder, Brenda Alluyn, Carmen Van Nyvelseel, Carole De Buck, Cees Janssens, Chloé Arrouy, Chouf, Christophe De Tremerie, Christophe Debusscher, Cora Oosterlinck, Daan Dekeyser, Demi Blanche, Diablo Kahlo, Diana Dobrescu, Didier Van Acker, Dounia Mahammed, Dirk De Paepe, Elien Ronse, Elisabeth Kinck , Elisabeth Severino Fernandes, Els De Vreese, Els Mommaert, Elsemieke Scholte, Eva Knapen, Evi Pletinck, Fairuz Ghammam, Femke Gyselinck, Floris Baeke, Frédéric Ehlers, Gino Jacobs, Glen D’haenens, Golce Dabbana, Guido Spruyt, Guy Peeters, Hannelore Audenaert, Hans Wils, HE4RTBROKEN, House of Lux, Ichraf Nasri, Israël Ngashi (a.k.a Wild), Jan Henric Bogen, Jan Vandenhouwe, Jan Vereecken, Jarne Van Loon, Jean Delouvroy, Jean-Pierre Verkimpen, Jérôme Depriestre, Johan Brutsaert, Johan Schillewaert, Jonas Baeke, Jonathan Baltussen, Joram Kunde Boumkwa, José Reyes, Jozef Wouters, Julie Daems, Justyna Miller, Kiki Vervloesem, Koen Bollen, Koen Schetske, Krietjur, Kristie Su, Lafawndah, Lara Fransen, Laurens Mariën, Leaving Living Dakota, Leontien Allemeersch, Lies Vanborm, Liesbeth Koeken, Lieselot Siddiki, Lieselotte Deforce, Lise Thomas, Liyo Gong, Lorenzo Calebotta, Lotte Suvée, Louise Vandenheuvel, Luc Nicolai, Mama’s Open Mic, Manoeuvre, Marta Babić, Mats Vandrooghenbroek, Matthieu Goeury, Mauve Lux, Mélanie Peduzzi, Menno Vandevelde, Mert Şen, Michiel De Jaeger, Mien Maes, Mikolaj Türschmid, Misako Kato, Mona Abdel-Wahab, Muriel Bialek, Myriam De Bosschere, Nathalie Van De Vijver, Nona Demey Gallagher, Nicolas Clément, OKAN, Ophelie Mac, Pascal Cornelis, Peter Roosendans, Post Animale / La ‘S’ Grand Atelier, Raphaëlle Lenseigne, Robbe Van Doorsselaere, Ruud van Moorleghem, Se-Yun Lee, Sébastien Tassin, Simon Baetens, Simon Derover, Sophie Vrielynck, Stefaan Van Den Eede, Stijn Buggenhout, Studenten van de afdeling Performance aan KASK School of Arts, Tigette, Theo Bonne, Tom Dejager, Tom Huygens, Tom Van Cauwenberghe, Traudi Helmberger, Veerle Francken, Veerle Van Den Wouwer of, Vic Van den Bossche, Viktor Banka, Wietse Bovri, Willem Rys, Wim Snauwaert, Wim Van Bree, Wim Van Brussel, Wutangu, Zaur Kourazov, Zoe Hollinshead, Zohir Boumelha, Zuidpark