Saving Doel: on 20 and 29 June the first artistic events to save the Flemish village of Doel
Doel is a village set in East Flanders on the left bank of the river Scheldt. On 23 March 2007 the Flemish Government approved the total demolition of Doel as of 2009. Already in August 2007, the first 126 vacant houses will be taken down. To justify this decision, the authorities argue that the village is no longer suitable for human habitation and that social life is nonexistent.
An increasing group of people and associations, including Love Difference, is trying to save Doel, by making of it an “artistic events village”. As so far, a bilingual Dutch/English website has been created, hosting the petition for the open letter to the Flemish government (already signed by over 700 persons and still running). The site will be gradually extended as long as art projects will be carried out in Doel.
On 29 June the first art project will be inaugurated, a monumental painting on the northern quay wall of the yacht basin. On 20 June, while the work in the yacht basin is still going on, organizers will invite the press to promote the upcoming inauguration with the public at large and to hand over the text of the "open letter to the Flemish Government" to the different media.
Also on 20 June, a creative workshop will be held involving some 100 psychiatric patients in Doel. This simultaneous event is meant to show the media that Doel, where there is hardly any traffic, is an excellent place to organize such socially relevant activities.
www.kunstdoel.net

Salvare Doel: il 20 e 29 giugno i primi eventi d’arte per salvare il villaggio fiammingo di Doel >>>