WOKE AWARD

With Stefan Ruitenbeek, Sithabile Mlotshwa, Klaar van der Lippe, Maarten Doorman, Jeanette Chedda and Cecile van Bruggen

2 November 2024

Tickets

Is wokeness the new political correctness? Is it simply morality in overdrive? Is the struggle against social injustice limiting the space for ambiguity, idiosyncrasy, critical self-examination and humility. Once claimed by the left, the term ‘woke’ is now mostly used in right wing circles to ridicule its opponents. If we are to combat this phenomenon, it’s crucial that we take a critical look at everything we are being sold under the pretext that it is ‘woke’. DEAL WITH IT is introducing the Woke Award to distance itself from right wing gut sentiments opposing everything ‘woke’ and to give ourselves an opportunity to examine the current interpretation of the term. The time has come to create some breathing space and shake things up from the inside – without taking ourselves too seriously.

Together with artist HIMMELSBACH we are presenting a panel of experts who will each nominate one candidate for the Woke Award. Museums, funding organisations, festivals, artists and governmental institutions are all eligible for this award that you would possibly rather not win.

And, we are also encouraging you to submit your nomination! In the run-up to the award show on 2 November, IMPAKT is calling on everyone to nominate an institution or person. So nominate who you think is the ‘wokest’ institution or person before 25 October 23:59.

The Woke Award is an implementation of Concept 135 from the HIMMELSBACH idea catalogue. The complete HIMMELSBACH idea catalogue is part of the exhibition The Cake is Lie at IMPAKT [Centre for Media Culture].

With Stefan Ruitenbeek, Sithabile Mlotshwa, Klaar van der Lippe, Maarten Doorman and Jeanette Chedda

Moderated by Cecile van Bruggen

TICKET FOR THIS PROGRAMME

What else is on Saturday?

Check the timetable to visit more programmes with your Festival Pass (5-days) or Day Pass (1-day). With the passes you can also visit the festival exhibition The Cake is a Lie at the IMPAKT [Centre for Media Culture].

Saturday day pass 5-day festival pass

For more information on the festival tickets please see here

Stefan Ruitenbeek Maarten Doorman Jeanette Chedda Cecile van Bruggen HIMMELSBACH

Stefan Ruitenbeek

― Speaker

Stefan Ruitenbeek (1982, Breda, the Netherlands) is the director of the films and episodes of Keeping it Real Art Critics (KIRAC), an art collective he founded with Kate Sinha in 2016 that produces writings, films, talks, events, poetica, and artistic schooling.

Maarten Doorman

― Speaker

Maarten Doorman is a writer and philosopher. He is a contributor to NRC and wrote about art, society and engagement in De navel van Daphne (2016) and Dichtbij en ver weg. Essays about art, philosophy and literature (2018). See www.maartendoorman.nl

Jeanette Chedda

― Speaker

Being born and raised in a country where she is not welcome, Chedda still does her political activist work. Brown disabled Muslim queers are invisible in the Netherlands. And nobody notices.

Cecile van Bruggen

― Moderator

Cecile van Bruggen is a moderator, radio host and teacher. She holds a BA in Arts and Culture from Erasmus University and an MA in Global and Comparative Philosophy from Leiden University for which she graduated cum laude. While delving into philosophy she has always surrounded herself with the arts. She enjoys engaging in conversation with artists to explore the boundaries of what we know. Cecile hosts the Gallery Noise radioshow at Operator Radio, is a regular debate moderator at Debatpodium Arminius, and teaches at Leisure & Events Management at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam.

HIMMELSBACH

― Artist

HIMMELSBACH (1983) is a social artist and idea generator. He creates monuments to unwritten histories and futures, conducts playful campaigns, and commits guerrilla interventions. His work has been exhibited in cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Ghent, and New York. Recently, he won the Museum Het LAM’s Art Entrepreneur Award and the television competition De Nieuwe Vermeer on broadcaster MAX. This year, Himmelsbach celebrates his 15th anniversary as an independent artist. Projects such as A Paper Monument for the Paperless, Wilders Webshop, and A Day of Free Help for All Amsterdammers are examples of his long-term, intense social art projects. His work focuses on addressing complex societal issues in a personal, lighthearted, and often participatory way. For Himmelsbach, art represents the next step beyond his earlier activism. While activism often polarizes by framing issues in binary good-versus-evil terms, art allows for ambiguity and multiple perspectives. Where propaganda seeks to impose opinions, Himmelsbach’s art embraces friction and confusion, inviting reflection and dialogue.

Archive

Festival 2024

WOKE AWARD

With Stefan Ruitenbeek, Sithabile Mlotshwa, Klaar van der Lippe, Maarten Doorman, Jeanette Chedda and Cecile van Bruggen

Stefan Ruitenbeek

Maarten Doorman

Jeanette Chedda

Cecile van Bruggen

HIMMELSBACH

LINK