Save the Date_17 November_Myvillages is 20

Myvillages' tractor tyre at Whitechapel Gallery, photographed during at The Showroom, photo: Dan Weill

Looking back to the future we want – together celebrating and reflecting on 20 years of Myvillages

17 November 2023 in Rotterdam

11:00 - 16:00 Rural Rotterdam Trip - register HERE

16:00 - 18:00 Gathering at TENT to connect and reconnect

18:00 - 20:00 Panel and Discussion at TENT

20:30 - 23:00 Dinner, Music and Party - register HERE

Dear colleague, friends, supporter and comrades of Myvillages

In 2003 we officially launched Myvillages (then called myvillages.org) as a shared cultural space for opening up the rural as a working place for artists. Fed up with the ubiquity of urban cultural hegemony, we self-organised ways of thinking together, working within and publishing about the rural as a particularity without any urge to define it.

20 years later and numerous and invaluable encounters, relationships and projects later, we want to celebrate rural realities and imaginaries with you, in the manner of our work: close to the ground, together with others, curious, critical and tangible.

We cordially invite you to join us for one day of Rural Rotterdam on Friday 17th November 2023.

11am – 3pm Rural Rotterdam Trip
Keywords: former farmland, cow and landscape, colonial histories and trans-local dairy knowledge

Meeting Point: Myvillages Studio and Archive, Ericastraat 8
NOTE: please register HERE for this part of the day, as places are limited

4pm – 6pm Books, Coffee and Cake at TENT
A relaxed gathering to connect and reconnect, sharing publications on and about the rural, with slices of home-made cake and coffee. Please bring books and fanzines others should know about.

6pm – 8pm De-urbanising the Museum
A call to acknowledge the urban trajectory of museums/contemporary art spaces and possible rural roles.

Reflective Introduction from Charles Esche, Director, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven and Franziska Zolyom, Director, GfZK Leipzig, followed by a panel with guests (names tbc)

8pm Dinner, Music and Party
On the Boerenzij aka South Rotterdam. Please register HERE

Publications by Myvillages and Myvillages founders Wapke, Kathrin and Antje