Mini-festival 'Art changes society'
- spazionour
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Art Changes Society
Art as a catalyst for social impact
Curated by Spazio Nour, Arteconomy (BE) & Subtopia (SE)
Date
Sunday 14 September 2025
Locations
Kasteel Hof d’Intere
Sint-Amelbergakerk
Art Changes Society is about how art can do more than decorate or represent, it can actively shape the way we live together. Through participatory art, artists invite us not just to look, but to join in, to become part of the work and the story. This kind of art breaks down barriers between creator and audience, making space for new voices and shared experiences.
When people come together to participate, listen, and create, art becomes a catalyst for connection, understanding, and change. It helps us rethink who we are, where we belong, and how we relate to our history and each other. This is why it’s so important today: in a fast, divided world, art that invites participation offers a moment to slow down, reflect, and build community.
Through Art Changes Society, Spazio Nour, Arteconomy and Subtopia show how heritage isn’t just something from the past — it’s alive, shaped by our actions, memories, and stories. This festival invites you to experience art as a living conversation, one that can be shared and remembered. With contemporary participatory art, we add another layer to a long-existing story.
MUSIC FOR PANCAKES by Martin Q Larsson is an interactive music performance in the front yard of the castle. Visitors can come and go freely and are welcome to join conversations with the artist.
THE SPACE AS A MOLD by Jaimy Van der Sloten invites visitors to create drawings on the village's surfaces following simple instructions. People can participate at their own pace.
PARADISE by Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi is an installation in the Saint Amelberga Church. It connects cultural memory with present experience. Visitors can view the work and reflect quietly.
TO CARRY A STONE by Marijke Beckers asks visitors to carry a stone representing another person’s story or memory. Participation is flexible; visitors may join and leave anytime.
LIEUX DE MÉMOIRE by Aster Henderieckx is a dance solo in the church, performed at specific times during the day.
IMPROVISATION SOUNDSCAPE by Iris Eysermans brings medieval and improvised music around the historic organ, performed live at scheduled times.
PASTORALE: A.J. Heymans and his new contemporaries is an exhibition in the castle that reflects on themes of simplicity and slowness, featuring 25 artists in dialogue with Impressionist painter A.J. Heymans. Curated by Bruno Devos, Spazio Nour, on view until 06/12/2025.
The interactive performances by Martin Q Larsson, Jaimy Van der Sloten, and Marijke Beckers allow visitors to participate by arriving and leaving freely.
About the organizers
Spazio Nour (IT/BE) is a social-artistic platform that uses contemporary art to strengthen communities. Founded by Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi in Milan in 2014 and active in Wechelderzande since 2025, Spazio Nour creates spaces for encounter, dialogue, and imagination. Their projects are participatory, context-sensitive, and focused on social change.
Arteconomy (BE) works to integrate artistic practices within businesses, policies, and social structures. Their mission: to use art to learn how to deal with complexity, change, and meaningful innovation. Through workshops, tools, and collaborations between artists and innovators, they build bridges between the creative and economic sectors.
Moktamee (BE) is a creative community in Herentals that brings together makers, artists, and entrepreneurs. With workspaces, a photo studio, meeting and workshop rooms, and a shared makerspace, Moktamee offers an ecosystem where entrepreneurship, creativity, and collaboration take center stage. https://www.moktamee.be/
Subtopia (SE) is a cultural center in Botkyrka (Stockholm region) dedicated to contemporary circus arts, film, urban culture, and social engagement. With studios, residencies, and a cultural ecosystem, Subtopia supports artistic practices that make dreams tangible and strengthen community connections.
Parallel to the programme of Open Monuments Day. More information via the official website of Open Monuments Day: https://www.openmonumentendag.be/spazionour
Programme:
Graphics: Silvia Holscher
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