For a new art project in the Vrijheidswijk in Leeuwarden East, art initiative VHDG is joining forces with the artist collective Pink Pony Express. This collective — consisting of Tara Karpinski, Cecilia Hendrikx, Annemarie van den Berg, and Jesper Buursink — creates site-specific art that always originates from the place itself. Over the course of a year, Pink Pony Express will visit the neighborhood several times to explore what is happening there. Previously, they worked on Sint Eustatius, where they investigated why trust in the democratic process is low, and on Urk, where they collaborated with residents on projects about the impact of Brexit on the fishing industry. The local community is therefore always an essential cornerstone of their projects.
Leeuwarden East & Healthy with Culture
Leeuwarden East, together with social partners and government bodies, is developing various programs to combat poverty and inequality, improve the neighborhoods, and make the communities safer. At the same time, Kunstkade, through the program Healthy with Culture, is enabling five unique art projects in collaboration with local art organizations. Over the next year and a half, VHDG, ’t Verskil, Embrace Nederland, and Het Generatiehuis will work with art and culture together with residents from the neighborhoods Bilgaard, Heechterp/Schieringen, Vrijheidswijk, Oud-Oost, and Camminghaburen.
De Ponies land in the Vrijheidswijk
Pink Pony Express is settling in the Vrijheidswijk at the invitation of VHDG. This post-war neighborhood has a rich history and a vibrant cultural life. Residents, often with limited means, organize a wide range of initiatives, from Zumba and bingo to Caribbean festivals and the All for One Multicultural Gospel Choir. It’s also a place where young rappers find their stage and audience.
Listening, participating, creating together
Together, Pink Pony Express and VHDG aim to make a meaningful contribution. They begin by listening, researching, and taking part in daily life in the neighborhood. And after that? They will explore which theme can be brought to the forefront. This may take the form of a large collaborative art project in public space, in MFC Mozaïek, or through a variety of smaller artworks, projects, and performances — all supported by VHDG and Pink Pony Express.
Behind every street and every front door lies a story. Pink Pony Express, together with residents, will explore what’s happening in the neighborhood and how art can play a role there. In the coming months, we’ll share what we encounter along the way, from meetings to new ideas, through our website and social media channels.
