Five newly commissioned artworks for MINDSCAPES

Cultural institutes and individual artists from Manchester and the Netherlands have joined forces to explore the theme of mental health in cities during MINDSCAPES festival. Five new artworks were created, commissioned by SICK! and funded by DutchCulture in partnership with the Dutch Embassy in the UK. Diverse disciplines are represented including poetry, drawings and music, which all explore the question of why densely populated cities are also some of the loneliest places in the world. Due to COVID-19 many artworks have moved online, making it accessible for international audiences. We created an overview with information about how and where the artworks can be experienced:

Amsterdam-based composer Yonatan Collier and Manchester-based music charity Brighter Sound created Soundpaths, a (free) app that takes you on a sonic journey through Moston and Harpurhey in Manchester, or through Amsterdam-Noord. The immersive sounds change while you walk, based on your GPS location. The app allows its users to experience their city in a new way, boost their physical and mental wellbeing, and walk the route in line with COVID-19 regulations.

Watch the Q&A with Yonatan Collier, which was posted on 30 March 2021 by SICK! Festival.

Working with people in five neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester who have experienced mental health issues, Dutch artist Jan Rothuizen created distinctive and intricate drawings to map out these inner worlds. His drawings are put up on poster sites across the Metrolink network in Manchester until 16 May 2021. You can view online animations here.

Watch the Q&A with Jan Rothuizen, which was posted on 20 April 2021 by SICK! Festival.

Amsterdam-based Theater DEGASTEN has been working with young people growing up in care in both The Netherlands and Manchester as well as with a small group of young creatives from Manchester to produce a ‘living zine’ as a record of these strange times and a means to connect with others. DutchCulture spoke with the initiators about the project.

Dutch poets Elten Kiene and Sjaan Flikweert from The Netherlands, and Manchester-based poets Saf Elsenossi and Ella Otomewo have worked with migrant communities in Moston and Harpurhey to create a collection of poems that reflect their sense of place and identity. The poems can be admired in the streets of Moston and Harpurhey.

Watch the Q&A with Elten Kiene and Sjaan Flikweert, which was posted on 13 April 2021 by SICK! Festival.

Dutch artist Merel Smitt developed an interactive website in collaboration with Ariane Gros, Maisa Imamović and Maaike Canne: While Waiting, Wait Here. The website represents the experience of being stuck in a system, going around in circles, hitting dead ends and being constantly watched. The artwork is based on the Universal Credit benefit system in the UK and the tough realities of lives kept on hold. The website is available online: click here and take a number.

Watch the Q&A with Merel Smitt, which was posted on 6 April 2021 by SICK! Festival.

The festival has been commissioned by SICK! Festival in Manchester and funded by DutchCulture in partnership with the Dutch Embassy in the UK. It is the result of a two-year collaboration between arts organisations and artists in Manchester and The Netherlands who have been working together and within local Manchester communities.

Check out the complete overview of Dutch cultural activities in the United Kingdom in our database.

If you are a cultural professional who wants to go to the United Kingdom, feel free to contact our Focal Countries advisors via focalcountries@dutchculture.nl.