First edition of Frictions festival tastes like more

The theme of the evening was the emotion 'sad,' represented by an impressive, collectively crafted long scarf as a symbol of crying, warmth and comfort. The upcoming editions on 18 January, 22 February and 7 March highlight the emotions 'scared', 'happy' and 'angry', inspired by the exhibition 'In for life: 10 years of David Bade in Heerlen'.

Edition 1: Sad - Wrap me around you

Each edition of Frictions, SCHUNCK invites a different group to curate the evening, and on 14 December literature platform PANDA kicked off. Radio producer Martje Schoemaker led the audience through an emotional journey, where regional heroes and literary luminaries, including members of Het Belangrijke Genootschap, shared their personal reflections. Impressive readings came from Yana Wings and Kunstbende winner Lena Claesen. Writer Dennis Gaens and dramatist Selm Wenselaers explored the themes of grief and comfort in performances specially devised for the festival and an afterword, followed by a preview of Octavie Wolters' upcoming book on comfort. Abu Bakarr Sidikie Mansaray closed with a word of hope, while composer Reggy van Bakel framed the evening with enchanting electronic ambient music.

Real people

The words of thanks from Merlijn, of PANDA, perfectly reflected the mood of the evening. He emphasized the magical feeling created by the shared idea of the scarf and the evening itself. The warmth and vulnerability of the attendees created a unique and genuine experience. With this first edition, the Frictions Festival proved that it is not about artifice or fake shows, but about real people who dare to open up. An evening where facades were peeled off and the deepest emotions were exposed. Thank you to all the participants for their vulnerability and wonderful contributions. It was, as Merlijn aptly put it, "kickass cool".

Save the date

On 18 January, the second edition of Frictions will take place, with the theme 'scared'. Frictions Festival and Queer Parkstad present talks, performances, workshops, music and an interactive exhibition. There will be a musical performance by White Canvas and Gigi Love, among others, and you will see the documentary 'Verstoten', about homeless rainbow youth in the Netherlands. The evening's special guest is Sammy Malary, with her performance 'The Fear of Queer'. Get swept up in an emotional journey, where sadness, anger, fear and joy come together in a powerful story.