Frequently asked questions

• General and program

  What is the Reiefestival?

  The Reiefestival in Bruges is a new multi-day arts festival linking heritage with contemporary performing arts. The festival will take place triennially from 2023. This year, Reiefestival takes place from Friday 18 to 20 August 2023 and focuses on new creations. Fourteen national and international creators and artists created bespoke performances at various open-air locations in Bruges. Each edition works with a theme. ‘Faith’ is the theme of 2023.

  What is the theme ‘Faith’ about?

  Each edition works with a theme. Faith is the theme for 2023. Faith here refers not only to the various world religions, but equally to personal forms of belief and conviction and to forms of superstition that are deeply rooted in our daily lives. It contains the spiritual experience that leaves everyday reality and consciousness behind, or dissolves into a bigger picture. What is the role of faith today and does it differ from the, distant or recent, past? Faith also cannot be separated from truth and from the boundary between truth and fiction, the moment when you believe something becomes truth.

  How was the programme selected?

  The programme was put together on the basis of an open call, addressed to professional artists and makers active in the wider arts field in one or more performing arts disciplines: theatre, musical theatre, performance, dance, music, sound, spoken word, circus… The first open call ran from 15 September to 30 November 2021. Using an online form, interested parties could submit a project proposal. 104 applications were selected by a jury in two stages: selection by submission and interview

  Can I visit the Reiefestival with children?

  There are some performances accessible to children:
  – Kapitein Nemo (Captain Nemo)
  – Wensen voor de wind (Wishes for the wind)
  – Dit is geen appel. (This is not an apple.)
  – Locus iste
  – Procession
  – P.G.R. (Pro Gratia Recepta)
  – Johannes Is Zijn Naam (John Is His Name)
  – Beatrijs: een makkelijk middeleeuws Maria-mirakel maar dan moeilijk (Beatrice: a simple medieval miracle tale – except not)

  How to prepare for Reiefestival?

  You can go through the programme via this website. The theme box will also give you more insight into the theme ‘Faith’.
  From 8 May, you can put together your own programme using a comprehensive Reiefestival timetable.

• Practical

  When does the Reiefestival take place?

  The Reiefestival will continue triennially and will take place on August 18, 19 and 20 in 2023.

  Where does the Reiefestival take place?

  The festival will take place in Bruges city centre at 17 different venues spread across the city and its boroughs.

  Is there a set route?

  No, there is no trail during the Reiefestival. The performances will take place at different locations in the city, at different times.

  What can I visit the festival centre for?

  The festival centre, located in Salon Arents (Dijver 16), serves during the Reiefestival as the central meeting place where you can go for info & tickets. It is also the central meeting place of the festival where the following activities will take place:

  • Festival Bar hosted by De Republiek. No festival without a bar, no better host for this bar than De Republiek! As City Maker with Grand Café, De Republiek brings its fresh dynamism and hospitality to the Reiefestival for the occasion. Together, we transform the courtyard of Hof Arents into vibrant festival centre.
  • Installation Enter the ♡ & performance Myein by Riccardo Santalucia & Gloria Dorliguzzo. The exhibition space in Salon Arents will be occupied by Riccardo Santalucia’s audiovisual installation ‘Enter the ♡’, which introduces and frames the live performance ‘Myein’ by Gloria Dorliguzzo. The installation is free to visit during the festival. For the performance, which takes place every day at 16:30 and 18:30, you can buy a ticket via www.reiefestival.be, at In&Uit or at the festival centre itself.

  What are the opening hours of the festival centre?

  The festival centre is open from 11am to 1am.

  Is there an info point during the festival?

  There are two info points where you can get detailed information about the festival:
  1. In&Uit Brugge (‘t Zand 34, 8000 Bruges). Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm & on Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2pm.
  2. Festival centre Reiefestival (Dijver 16, 8000 Bruges). Open on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 August from 11am to 10pm.

   

   

• Varia

  How can I stay informed about Reiefestival 2023?

  You can subscribe to the newsletter, consult our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

  How can I submit an idea for the next edition of the Reiefestiv?

  A new open call is launched for the second edition of the Reiefestival (in 2026) in September 2024. We hereby also announce the new theme.