Friday, Saturday and Sunday (20-22nov 09) I joined the conference for young artists working on Utrecht Artistic Capital 2018, Nieuwe Grond.

As always on these meetings was it difficult to really come together on a practical level. I mean every body likes to talk and meet up but how can we find ways to really work together instead of just talking or making very small on the spot artistic farts. (like create an image of this neighbourhood in two hours) These conference are very good for your network and sometimes give you some energy in the ‘i am not alone ‘ sense but selden really result in something concrete or lasting.

I think the only way a meeting of artists can be more than just some talking is when artists themselves start organising such a thing from a necessity within them. Most of the time these meeting are not organised by artists but by ‘institutes or organisations’ and have a more political reason.

When an artists feels the need to combine forces, to meet and work together he/she will come with a concept. Until that day, we will talk a lot, eat a sandwich, listen to a presentation, do a little art thingy and be let as the sheep we are.