140,000 attend 2023 edition of Noorderzon festival – The Northern Times

The 33rd edition of the Noorderzon Festival of Performing Arts & Society came to a successful end after delighting some 140,000 eager visitors during the 11-day event.

In a statement, the organisers said that more than 750 performances, lectures, talks, concerts, and installations were organised throughout the town.

It was also the first edition since the start of the coronavirus pandemic that didn’t have to take into account public health restrictions. This meant that the intimate performances held in shipping containers could return. Dagblad van het Noorden described these container shows as “unmissable”.

The international main programme was well received and incorporated companies and creators from South Africa, Canada, Italy, Chile, Spain, Australia, and Iran.

The organisers highlighted that the festival places an importance on social inclusion. Several groups of refugees were invited to see the performances and meet members of the crew. More than 370 people paid it forward and bought a ticket for those who couldn’t afford one. A number of the events had no entry fee and ticket prices from the rest ranged from 3 to 19 euros.

However, the organisers are concerned about the sustainability of the event. They said they continue to face significant challenges such as inflation, energy costs, and price increases.

“Challenges for society and the economy as a whole also apply to festivals such as Noorderzon,” they said. The organisers said they hope the upcoming culture policy for the 2025-2028 period will invest in the future of festivals.

In case you missed this year’s edition or if you’re already waiting for the next one, get ready to mark your calendar. The organisers have announced that the 34th edition of the festival will take place next year from Thursday 22 August to Sunday 1 September 2024.

Title photo: ©Lucas Kemper