Feral is a festival that reflects on today’s urgent political and social issues, and how artists take them into their hands. It is a programme of artistic interventions and encounters that uses art to influence everyday life in Brussels. Feral can take place on a boat, on a farm, in a swimming pool or an old monastery. Feral is urban, interstitial, peripheral and feral.

This year, Feral will be held from 17 to 20 September in Park Josaphat (Schaerbeek) at MONA (Jette), Place Reine Astrid (Jette) and at the Marché aux Porcs (Brussels).

Editorial

If you pay a little attention, the Middle Ages are everywhere: from the figure of Hildegard of Bingen to the celebration of the commons, from the remaking of St. Vitus' viral dancing to Zendaya’s outfits, from bardcore concerts to the resurgence of witches. 

This very long historical period, spanning more than 1,000 years in Europe, inspires, fascinates and divides, and this attraction takes many different aesthetic and political forms.

In the Middle Ages, everything was symbolic. This reflects in architecture, painting, illuminations and the abundant and mysterious images of coats of arms, allegories and bestiaries.

In this pre-capitalist, pre-industrial era, the city is emerging, allowing different forms of governance and political participation to appear. The relationship between the commons and public space was very different. Art and craft, urban and rural, science and imagination, are all more permeable. Collective forms of organisation, solidarity, and power-sharing, that our modern world has almost erased, are underway.

For all these reasons, Feral 2025 will be medieval. Taking as our starting point contemporary art forms that revisit, perpetuate and reference the Middle Ages, and accompanied by lively researchers, let's set off on a journey between eras, heading towards emancipatory medieval times, in opposition to its portrayal as a conservative and violent era. Let's see why and how it haunts and awakens imaginations, nourishes counter-narratives, strengthens struggles and helps us dream up our future. For four days, let's jump into these Middle Ages for a collective, joyful and critical exploration.

Where does history end and collective daydreaming begin?

We are going to

shoot with a bow and arrow

visit an old guild

dance to hommel

invoke beguines

question the construction of our collective identity

meet Jane Dark

invent new forms of family-making

nuance gender

marvel at nettles

create avatars 

think about our relationship with history and time

have a hobby horse tournament

wonder at the beauty and power of images

concoct witch ointments 

slow down and blend in with the city

mimic Monty Python

and take up the challenge of an emancipatory practice of history.

Marine Thévenet, Aurel Leforestier, Anna Czapski & Emmanuelle Nizou

Registrations

Feral is free, on registration.

To register, please fill in the form below. The programme is designed as a journey and breaks down into 8 moments. You can register to one, several or all of these moments.

Practical information

Languages

Discussions will be held in English or French with simultaneous translation. Workshops will be given in their original languages, with rapid translation available. Films will be in French and will not be subtitled. The podcast will be in French, without translation. The Live-Action Role-Play will be in French and English.

Meals

On Thursday 18 and Friday 19, a vegetarian, pay what you can meal will be on offer at MONA.

Accessibility

Wednesday 17 September

The programme takes place at Josaphat Park on the lawn around buvette Sint-Sebastiaan.

Thursday 18 September

The programme takes place at MONA, with the following activities taking place on the first floor, without a lift: the workshop with OSP, the workshop with Bryana Fritz & Stefa Govaart, the workshop with Aniara Rodado & Martin Howse, the screening of Clara Thomine's film, the Passions Médiéviste podcast with Amalia Laurent and the screening of Eden Tinto Collins' series.

Friday 19 September

The programme takes place at MONA, with the following activities taking place on the first floor, without a lift: the workshop with OSP, the workshop with Bryana Fritz & Stefa Govaart, and the workshop with Aniara Rodado & Martin Howse.

Saturday 20 September

Moni Wespi's performance will take place in the street, in the centre of Brussels.

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact us at: cifas@cifas.be.

We will do our best to meet your needs

Credits

Feral is organised by Cifas, in partnership with Buvette Sint-Sebastiaan, Toestand and La Bellone.

Cifas is supported by Cocof, FWB and Actiris.

Feral is supported by the City of Brussels.

Team

Marine Thévenet - Artistic and general direction

Aurel Leforestier - Research and dramaturgy

Anna Czapski - Texts and dramaturgy

Emmanuelle Nizou - Dramaturgy

Charlotte David - Production and coordination

Beth Gordon - Communication

Laurie-Anne William alias Bea - Production assistant

Flore Herman - Coordination Feral Magazine

Juliette Framorando - Production

Jeanne Pruvot Simonneaux - Scenography

Lucie Caouder - Graphic design

Asma Lajimi - Photography

Dancing Words - Translation

Cosmodelyk

At MONA, following on from Feral, the second edition of Cosmodelyk, a psychedelic music festival will take place from 19 to 21 September.

"Welcome to this Cosmodelyk Anahata Equinox, where the uninterrupted is its origin, linking Earth and Spirit, where emotional harmonic balance nourishes Heart and Love with the joy of greater freedom."