A festival at heart of reality
by Selma&Sofiane Ouissi, Hoor Al Qasimi et Jan Goossens
Dream City 2023 aspires to mirror the intricate tensions currently faced by Tunisia. Our goal is to merge artistic expression with the pressing challenges of our nation and our era. The interwoven and interdependent crises that confront us, whether they impact Tunisia or the global community, can no longer be disregarded. Our connections with the political and democratic spheres, with nature and the environment, with the ever-evolving human condition, with history and truth, will resonate profoundly through the artists, creations, invited works, conferences, and encounters of Dream City.
Against a backdrop of worldwide turbulence, Dream City strives to amplify the voices of artists, thinkers, and citizens committed to envisioning an alternative future, if not an entirely different destiny. Artistic gestures and outspoken messages will strive to encapsulate, with both sensitivity and humility, our interlinked realities at a time when borders, whether tangible or symbolic, are being questioned universally and often precipitate violence.
This turbulence and dissent will infuse the entire festival agenda, which will be steered more than ever by context-based creation. Artists, thinkers, and activists from Tunisia, Congo, Morocco, Sudan, Palestine, Mali, Egypt, Gambia, Lebanon, the United States, Portugal, Germany, Austria, France Belgium and Britain will not profess to possess all the solutions, but they will approach their contexts with profound openness. These contexts, both local and gateways to the world, will collectively shape a space-time where dedication to others, both human and non-human, will reside at the core of all endeavours.
In the wake of recent tragic events in Tunisia, such as the expulsion and loss of life of refugees in the Sahara, Dream City stands committed to a fully inclusive and diverse environment. We champion deep and unwavering solidarity among all communities present within our territory and in our programme. Concurrently, we seek to spotlight the adverse repercussions of the exportation of European migration policies during this crisis. In an era where anti-migrant and anti-refugee stances are gaining traction globally, we deem it imperative to reaffirm the principles of respect and tolerance in Tunisian society, and in societies at large.
In this context, Dream City aspires to offer a modest contribution to this reiteration. We firmly believe that artistic creation can serve as the driving force behind resistance and the crafting of an alternative future. By fusing intellectual contemplation with tangible action, by melding dance, theatre, music, visual arts, and celebration, and by intertwining contemporary forms with grand popular performances, we aspire to provide a vibrant and enriching experience.
We extend a warm invitation to you to partake in Dream City 2023, a realm where art and creativity serve as potent instruments in shaping a brighter future.
Selma & Sofiane Ouissi, Hoor Al Qasimi, Jan Goossens
Artistic directors
