How long has the Festival Campus been in existence and who is it aimed at?
The Festival Campus was founded in 2012 under the directorship of Heiner Goebbels and has continued in an ever-evolving form ever since. The basic idea, however, has always remained the same: students from colleges and universities in Germany, Europe and around the world are invited to the Ruhrtriennale to critically examine their productions and exchange views on their viewing experiences in artist talks and our seminar and workshop programme.
Who will take part in the Festival Campus in 2021?
Due to the restrictions on international travel that continue to apply to many universities, this year's Campus is unusually 'regional': In addition to students from the Netherlands and Switzerland, participants will come mainly from Germany. But the choice of courses remains diverse: be it the Theatre Studies Institutes in Hildesheim, Giessen, Bochum or Munich, the scenography courses in Dresden and Karlsruhe, the directing course in Frankfurt or the Institute for Performative Practice, Art and Education in Braunschweig - they all send students and teachers to the Ruhr for a few festival weekends.
The first part of the Festival Campus 2021 is already over. What was on the programme?
We saw pretty much everything the festival had to offer: Florentina Holzinger's new work "A Divine Comedy" in Duisburg, Mette Ingvartsen's performance at the Folkwang Museum in Essen; we went to "Bählamms Fest" at the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, to Mats Staub's "21 - Memories of Growing Up" at the Turbinenhalle, and to the "Downfall of the House of Usher" in Gladbeck. The programme was supplemented by CampusTalks with Barbara Frey, Mette Ingvartsen and Mats Staub.
Was there a special highlight in the first part of the series?
I'm just happy that after three semesters of online teaching by now, we can come together again to engage in a lively exchange, discuss and reflect together and eat together in the Pappelwaldkantine. That feels like something very special after what for many has been a long period of relative isolation.
What was the mood like among the participants, what feedback did you receive?
Overall, I perceived the atmosphere as very relaxed and friendly. But we haven't sent out our feedback forms yet, so I can't substantiate my personal impression yet. ;)
When will it continue? Who is coming and what are your plans?
We are looking forward to two more Campus weekends in September with eighty more participants!
Please characterise the Festival Campus in three words!
Invitation - Exchange - Discussion
Have fun and exciting encounters for the next two editions of the Festival Campus!
Philipp Schulte has been running the Festival Campus for the Ruhrtriennale since 2012.