WORM 25

WORM has always been a champion for new, radical, and diverse ideas, often through collective practice. As the institute turns 25, WORM announces its new relationship with the world: Ultimate Playground.

With Ultimate Playground, WORM will offer space for play and experimentation, where new perspectives emerge and are celebrated. For WORM, art is the medium to celebrate plurality. Art “is the place” for not-knowing, and for the development of future sounds, language, images and dance, as well as new ways of coexistence.

Our vision as mission: WORM is the catalyst for new perspectives, and a contributor towards forward-thinking plurality!

In this new phase we don’t look for a revolution, but for an evolution: towards a deeper and broader sense of what we make and do, towards stronger and more valuable connections with people, and both a broadening and “anchoring” of our core values.

WORM develops and presents art in all its forms. WORM also believes in diverse perspectives. Such perspectives can be sustained through artistic practice, and can actively promote innovation and an inclusive society. To help with this process we are developing an artistic frame of reference for our programs and socio-cultural behaviour: what we call a Culture of Play (humanity as essentially playful), Pleasure Activism (setting optimism in motion), and a Fertile Ground.

• Culture of Play – the importance of play in life and art
  We believe that everything we see as “culture” comes from play. Opportunities to play are vital, for everyone.
• Pleasure Activism – pleasure and enjoyment as values to fight for
  We stand for radical (cultural) self-expression based on optimism. We value the words of Adrienne Maree Brown. “We have been raised to fear the YES within ourselves” (Pleasure Activism, Adrienne Maree Brown). WORM will combat that fear.
• Fertile Ground – a safe playing field and seedbed for innovation and genre development
  We embrace diversity of people and opinions, because we believe that uniformity does not lead to new perspectives. New perspectives lead to a fertile working environment that, in turn, leads to new perspectives!

WORM aims for real impact on a micro-scale. We believe person-to-person creative activities generate ripple effects in the wider world. By doing this kind of work we test what a post-polarised society could be, together with our makers and visitors. WORM’s space is needed for play and experiment; it can be a fertile ground where we can plant and nourish ideas, and one where we can grow talents. In the future, and guided by our artistic principles, we will focus on deepening, broadening and increasing our involvement in our programmes.

WORM recognises that uncertainty is the current reality. The call to come together, to create, to dance, to empower, to liberate, to discover and to share speaks to many; even as the increasing violence in the world undermines our social cohesion and puts increasing pressure on our social and mental health.

We see that people desperately need social spaces. Creatives, activists and artists regularly come to us, searching for a stage to express themselves fully and autonomously; to find and develop new forms of peace and profoundness in their work.

The Open City became a self-fulling prophecy: a great success, but one that nearly overwhelmed us. Without the Open City we would never have created the community, or achieved the versatility and plurality that characterises WORM today. We have grown enormously in terms of knowledge and professionalism, in a very short time. Even so: our radical YES to almost everything means we are still processing this crazy ride.

WORM will complete the Open City theme in 2024. Thanks to constant dialogue since 2021 (with our partners and internally), we are more adaptable in our practice. We continue to keep our finger on the pulse of society. We have proven how resilient we are. And now, more than ever, we feel it is necessary to be a place for optimism and imagination. WORM will continue to start new creative fires from the sparks struck between our workers, makers and audiences. WORM will be the place for dreams of possible societies, those that are curious about each others’ perspectives. WORM will make an impact by activating people artistically, on an intimate, person-to-person scale.

Where else but in Rotterdam? How else, but through connections with all our local, national and international makers and partners? And with who other than WORM?

WORM is an independent and forward-thinking arts venue that has a unique, contrary and inspiring presence in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and the world.

We occupy a distinctive position in the cultural world thanks to our hybrid and decentralised approach, and the space we give to transdisciplinary artists. WORM has a strong reputation as an experimental culture house for music, film, club, art, talk, community and performance programmes. Approximately 500 public activities take place in WORM every year. And with (for example) 140+ active radio makers and many small-scale community projects continually working in the building, it is almost impossible to fully encompass what WORM is. We can say it is a living creative entity. The unique composition of our organisation has created an extensive network over time, with many trusted personal contacts and organisations, worldwide. We are a partner for many (inter)national venues and festivals, but also, still, that first point of contact for grassroots and informal organisations. We are constructive connectors and often act as a Critical Friend, and aim for sustainable and reciprocal relationships.