Words Service
Sarah Vanhee (Belgium)Is there something you want to say or write but can’t find the words? Then visit Words Service.
The words provider will lend you a listening ear. Words Service is happy to help you with matters of head, heart and soul for which you need words.
For example:
- a letter,
- something you want to say to one or more people, live or via voice message,
- an email you want to send,
- something you want to write or say publicly,
- something you want to write down because you don’t want it to get lost,
- something you want to see formulated (differently).
All requests are welcome.
Communication is precious. Various writings are created with care and precision, in consultation, within a discreet, poetic setting. The service is free with an appointment. Available in Latvian and English.
Words Service is staffed by artist Sarah Vanhee, together with local word providers. With this work, Vanhee elaborates on her practice of active and deep listening, central to her oeuvre. Words Service offers attention and humanity in a hectic society, and is an ethical, aesthetic and symbolic alternative to the far-reaching digitalisation and robotisation of our language, communication and services.
At the end of this Words Service residency, there will be a public presentation in the form of a lecture-performance.
EASY READ VERSION
If you need help expressing your thoughts,
then come to Words Service.
The artist will listen to you
and help you to find words.
You can ask for:
– a letter
– something you want to say
– an e-mail
– a message
– anything else
All requests are welcome.
You speak with the artist
in a quiet and peaceful place.
Afterwards,
you can take the text home.
ABOUT ARTIST
Sarah Vanhee is an artist, performer, researcher and author whose work has been presented over the past twenty years on national and international stages, as well as within the fields of visual arts, film, and literature. She is known for original artistic forms that manifest both within and beyond institutional frameworks. Her work is driven by radical imagination and social engagement. Rooted in a performative practice, Vanhee operates transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral, often through co-creation. Art is a tool for her to foreground underrepresented narratives and non-dominant voices and entities. Vanhee has worked in theatres, hospitals, libraries, community centers, prisons, private living rooms, open fields, corporate meeting rooms, and more. She has published numerous texts in both artistic and academic contexts. In 2022, she obtained her artistic PhD at ARIA and KCA. Vanhee is active as a public speaker, guest professor, advisor, dramaturge, and mentor. As a researcher, long-standing and recurring areas of interest include knowledge and knowledge-sharing, law and justice, corporeality and sexuality. Currently (2026-2027) Vanhee is conducting research on the artistic representation of gender-based violence.
CREDITS
Words Service was initiated by artist and writer Sarah Vanhee.
Concept: Sarah Vanhee
Word Providers: Sarah Vanhee (EN, NL), Flore Herman (FR), Melissa Awouters (NL, EN) Marija Luīze Meļķe, Estere Betija Grāvere (LV)
Outside ears: Flore Herman
Graphic design, visual identity: Miriam Hempel
Set/Scenography: Geeraard Respeel, An Breugelmans
Website design: Wies Hermans
Production: Hiros
Local Producer: Ance Ancova (New Theatre Institute of Latvia)
ACCESSIBILITY
Mobility and environment
The sessions in Latvian will take place in a small room with a ramp at the entrance. The entrance to the venue for the sessions in English is at ground level, with no raised thresholds. Accessible facilities are located in the Boiler House. There is a small 5 cm threshold at the entrance.
Co-production: Kunstencentrum BUDA, De Grote Post, La Bellone, De Markten, Monty, C-Mine, VIERNULVIER, CAMPO
In partnership with: Bibliotheek Kortrijk, Memento Woordfestival, Bibliotheek Genk, Buurthuis Unik, AZ Sint-Lucas
With the financial support of: Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie
Date
Entrance
With registrationRegistration will open in August
Length
Location
Language
Accessibility
