The Performance
In progress 2025
As an artist, I organize art projects with others around social issues. This method is highly dependent on committed participants. People like you and me who find it important to look for new future perspectives. In special forms of collaboration, experiments can be realized that create new meaning locally.
In 2024, I spoke with many Krimpen residents about the realization of a lively village center. In 2025 I continued these conversations and my findings so far you can read on this page: 'cardio_vision'. It soon became clear to me that the municipality is making plans for the centre, but is not the owner of "the centre street".[Shopping centre De Crimpenhof]
Where other villages are built around a church or characteristic square, the centre of Krimpen is situated around a large car park. It feels as if the built "body" of Krimpen behind the dike, which once started as a ribbon village along rivers, lacks an appealing "face". While a human "Heart of Krimpen" cannot do without a face and vice versa.
The main property owner, a local baker's son, is not planning to invest in shopping centre 'De Crimpenhof'. The newspaper AD wrote that 23% of the retail space is vacant at the beginning of 2025, compared to 22% in 2024. The municipality must develop a new narrative for this centre, where different stories can find a place. Today only one story dominates - that of a single property owner.
Retailers are celebrating the 65th anniversary of De Crimpenhof Shopping Centre, which is well past its sell-by date. Local residents feel they can't change much. The cultural and social organizations are active within their own frameworks. Everyone in the village center points at each other. No one moves. For this complex playing field especially, I developed 'The Performance'. Right now I am looking for partners.
'The Performance' requires the courage to work together on a new narrative. That is why I went to the cultural partners. A project group was set up at the municipality. Local companies and residents were approached. The people I spoke to are nice and cautiously enthusiastic. So far no one has stepped forward to give substance to 'The Performance' together. Many e-mails remain unanswered. "Come back when the plans are concrete," is a common response. If we don't take responsibility for this experiment together, we can't create new meaning.
'The Performance' wants to contribute to a new narrative that belongs to a vibrant village centre. It aims to turn Raadhuisplein 4 into a "scene" for imagination. By renaming the square, the people there are transformed from "users" to "participants." This setting allows us to dance away the parked cars and awake the property owners with drums.
Residents in Krimpen aan den IJssel would like a lively centre with terraces, a diverse range of shops and cultural organisations. Having something in common with someone goes beyond having a drink together on a terrace or doing some shopping at the DIRK. It requires an inviting and open public space where a lot can happen. A "cultural construction site" where active "resident builders" can meet, to use the words of urban planner Lotte Stam-Beese (Reisicht, Silesia, 28 January 1903 - Krimpen aan den IJssel, 16 November 1988).
Krimpen aan den IJssel is home to 30,000 people, but is the village also being "built by residents"? It seems to me urgent that we start thinking together about this centre square of the future.
Kind regards, Edwin Stolk.
Your (company) name here? Do not hesitate to contact me when you are interested to collaborate!
'The Performance' was mentioned in the following media: more info soon.
'The Performance' follows the concept behind: #theorganisation
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