The Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and the Kinneksbond, Centre Culturel Mamer have initiated two online projects aimed at supporting national and international cultural creation.

The COVID-19 health crisis has hit the cultural sector hard in recent weeks and is likely to have repercussions on the local and international scenes as well as on the programming of the seasons to come. In this context, the Théâtres and the Kinneksbond have decided to launch the following two projects: 

  • the commissioning of theatrical texts from eight authors from Luxembourg and elsewhere as well as a call for projects for the design of a unique stage device in which all of the plays will take place in space and voice;
  • a call for urban projects which will lead to the creation of two “outside the walls” projects in the territories of the City of Luxembourg and the Municipality of Mamer.

These two initiatives will revolve around three themes aimed at putting into perspective past, present and future expereinces: "discourse on the state of emergency"; “hymn to the forgotten people of the crisis”; and "inventory of beautiful things".
Three subjects to put into perspective our past, present and future experiences

1. Commissioning of theatrical texts

Seeking to reflect the linguistic diversity of Luxembourg and the human constellations in which a large part of humanity found itself in the early days of confinement, the Théâtres and the Kinneksbond have commissioned eight theatrical texts of 20 to 30 minutes each from eight authors from Luxembourg and beyond:

  • Romain Butti: a monologue for a male figure in the Luxembourgish language;
  • Ian De Toffoli: a monologue for a female character in the French language;
  • Tullio Forgiarini: a French-language play for two characters; 
  • Anna Leader: an English-language play for two characters;
  • Guy Helminger: a German-language play for three characters;
  • Nathalie Ronvaux: a French-language play for three characters;
  • Elisabet Johannesdottir: an English-language play for four characters;
  • Lola Molina: a French-language play for four characters.

Between September and December 2020, these eight texts (which will have to be formally inspired by the three proposed themes and take into account any health measures still in force in autumn) will result in four evenings, each composed of two layouts and voices, at the Théâtres and the Kinneksbond. The eight aforementioned plays will be brought on stage in a unique setting, which should be able to invest both in the sets of the Théâtres and that of the Kinneksbond.

It is in this context that the two cultural organisations launched a call for projects intended for all scenographers, visual artists and professionals in the performing arts specialising in the creation of sets. Candidates must be established in the territory of Luxembourg or demonstrate a commitment to the national artistic and cultural scene.
The deadline for submitting applications is 3 July 2020.

Two preliminary projects, intended to be developed by their creators, will be selected by an international jury, who will then also designate the artist whose concept will be produced by the ateliers of the Théâtres. The names of the eight directors and the distribution of eight short plays will be announced at a later stage.

2. Call for urban projects

Taking into account the importance of reconnecting with their spectators and guaranteeing everyone's access to culture, the Théâtres and the Kinneksbond are encouraging artists on both sides of the border to conceive multidisciplinary artistic meetings outside the consecrated places, allowing direct and continuous contact with a diverse public. Therefore, a second call for projects aims to create two theatrical, choreographic, musical and / or circus performances which will: take place in the public space; reflect one of the three suggested themes; be compatible with the sanitary provisions potentially still in place in autumn.

The call is open to artists, companies and collectives of professional artists established in the territory of Luxembourg or demonstrating a commitment in the national artistic and cultural scene. The deadline for submitting the application files is 3 July 2020.

Applications will be studied by an international jury, who will designate the two projects selected. In autumn 2020, one creation will be implemented in the territory of the City of Luxembourg and another in that of the Municipality of Mamer.

The call for both projects is published on www.lestheatres.lu and www.kinneksbond.lu, as well as on the two establishments' Facebook pages.