Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

We live in a world where the natural balance is distorted. Not only are we threatened by impending environmental disasters, our social systems such as the economy, culture, education, politics have become stranded. In a society that is dominated by social unrest, a turbulent climate and wasteful consumerist behaviour, FoAM offers a haven to all those who are looking for creative solutions for these complex problems. FoAM strives for a world where bridges are built between different disciplines, cultures and views. This will allow us to work together towards a more ethical and greener world, thriving on independence and diversity.

With the slogan ‘grown your own worlds’ FoAM develops its activities in the form of longer projects as well as shorter experiments. The Brussels-based organisation not only conducts research with an eye for new technological developments, but also wants to divulge the gathered knowledge in the form of workshops, publications and a detailed archive.

At the game is up, FoAM will set up a temporary lab in the Brugzaal under the name GroWorld: Borrowed Scenery 0.1. The FoAM lab will grow organically during the festival, only to perish completely on the last day of the festival, not leaving any waste behind.

Several experiments with vegetable materials will be carried out in the lab, e.g. about the feeding of plants, incorporating plants in games and fiction, communication with plants (observing them, feeling them and talking to them) and man-plant interaction. The lab will also form a starting point for botanic fieldwork, with several sowing and gathering trips. Do you want to find out what patabotany is? Or how to get involved in guild-gardening? Then come and check out the lab or browse the expansive library FoAm is bringing to Vooruit, including books and reference works on ecology, art, ecodesign, etc.

The lab and library are freely accessible to the public. Interventions, lectures, presentations and actions will regularly take place, and you can get advice about solar panels or taste the vegetable snacks. FoAM employees are also open to questions, remarks or new ideas.

More info on http://fo.am/borrowed_scenery/

Contributors: Cocky Eek, Nik Gaffney, Dave Griffiths, Adrian Hon (Six to Start), Theun Karelse, Lina Kusaite, Maja Kuzmanovic, Tale of Tales (Auriea Harvey & Michaël Samyn), Bart Vandeput & Angelo Vermeulen, and others.