Procession
1 hr

P.G.R. (pro gratia recepta)

Sunday
20:30 - 21:30

Pro Gratia Recepta is dedicated to everyone who would like to thank someone for help, healing or comfort in times of pain and suffering. This may be a deity, a fate or a living being. People from all sorts of faiths and cultures express this gratitude through votives, or ex votos, inscribed with the words “pro gratia recepta”, which means “for the grace received”. During this creative workshop you are invited to explore all the different forms of votive objects that have existed through the ages and all over the world. You then set to work making your own ex voto using the materials and tools provided. Finally, you are welcome to offer your ex voto during the ritual procession along the canals. A mysterious and universal figure, neither god nor mortal, unconnected to any religion or culture, receives the offerings and carries them on her journey through the historical heart of the city.

With live music played by Accademia della Speranza.

With the support of Erfgoedcel Brugge, Cultuurcentrum Brugge, Musea Brugge and ‘t Naaldeke

Theme

It used to be common for people to express their faith in holy intervention through ex votos. You can still see them today in Bruges, in, for example, the Onze Lieve Vrouw ter Potterie church and the Folk Museum. They represent tangible belief in the love of God. Pro Gratia Recepta explores the universal aspect of this practice. The transcendental figure that receives the ex votos in this performance does not represent a particular deity but all deities. Every participant is thus welcome, regardless of culture, faith or religion.

More information

Azzurra De Gregorio (°1985, Termoli, IT) started out as an actor and then expanded her practice to include performing and visual arts. She experiments with intangible concepts, resulting in immersive and allusive experiences supported by music, lights, movement, costume and new technologies. Her work also makes reference to old paintings, symbolism and mythology and includes theatre pieces, photography, video art and, most recently, site-specific and participatory installations. She has taken part in: Romaeuropa Festival (2017); Stoff/ Stockholm Festival (2016); Napoli Teatro Festival (2015); Mediterranea 17/Young Artists Biennale (2015); Weores Sandor National Hungarian Theatre (2019); Apache- Teatro Litta Milano (2016); Festival of Juventudes Interartes (Salvador De Bahia, Brazil) (2019); Night With Performance Festival (Poland); Poietika Art Festival (2021); and Dansathon Belgium (2021). In 2019 she was awarded the European Theatre Convention (ETC) grant as a European Emerging Artist and began a collaboration with Weores Sandor National Theatre (Szombathely, Hungary).