With utmost regret I inform you that I have cancelled the event War Zone Amsterdam Safe Haven (WZA), which would take place from 3 May – 30 June 2012 in the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Despite the wonderful proposals of the artists, the commitment of the team, the generous support of the funds, the enthusiasm of the partners and the imagination, inspiration, motivation and many years of hard work we have not been able to realize even the minimal version of WZA.

Many people share our opinion that now is the time in the Netherlands to organize such an ambitious and political art event. In WZA artists from all over the world have taken on current themes as war, exclusion, intolerance and conflict. Not behind the walls of the art temples for a select public, but smack in the middle of society. WZA brings art as a different way of looking at reality and thinking about reality, and indeed in the only domain potentially shared by all citizens: the public domain.

We are discussing ways to convey the knowledge and experienc- es we have built up during the preparations of the event.

Brigitte van der Sande, October 2011 •


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