Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

79 million Europeans are living in poverty, and one in seven Belgians is poor. We seem to be unable to banish poverty from our society. That’s why 2010 has been designated as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Behoud de Begeerte will contribute to this event with the Helse Tijden series.

Under the title ‘Dure Woorden’ (Expensive Words) a string of international and local authors and musicians will contribute to this artistic, socially aware literary event on poverty. Instead of finger-pointing, the artists use humour. Presenter Jos Geysels will be joined by novelist and playwright Erik Vlaminck, theatre maker Arne Sierens (Compagnie Cecilia) and Bl!ndman, and many, many more. Partners organisations Welzijnszorg, Demos and Recht Op vzw will provide expertise to offer a proper insight into the situation.