1997
In 1997, the city of Ostend wants to present itself as the one and only “City at Sea” and a municipal non-profit organization called Tourism Ostend is established. Stimulated by the alderman for tourism at that time, Dries Vermeersch; the then director of “Tourism Ostend” Geert Declerck and lecturer at the Rits, Marc Lybaert, from 1997 on, a new festival figures at the Flemish event calendar: Theater Aan Zee .
The Idea
Marc Lybaert, the artistic director of the new festival at that time, who was surrounded by people from the professional theatre and television circuit ( Luc Muylaert, Luc Bosmans, Geert Van De Walle, Vincent Rouffaer, etc…) produces the idea of a workshop for video and performing arts, with a lot of attention for experiment.
Young theatre producers and video artists are invited to Ostend to show their early work to the public. Besides experiment, the festival also wants to put together a programme for a wide audience. Large-scale street theatre next to experiment are the principal parts of the festival during the first years. The festival gets media attention and so its name becomes widely known. This way, during the second edition, Theater Aan Zee gets to CNN with images of an actor, dressed up like a sucking pig in a butcher’s window, being arrested because of disturbing the public order.
1999
Within the platform of professional producers,, a contest called “Young Theatre Work” is organised. In 1999 Don Verboven is the laureate. He’s asked to scout young talent from the theatre training and to make a selection for the festival. The section Young Theatre is developed until Theater Aan Zee becomes the biggest platform for meetings of theatre educations from Flanders and the Netherlands
In other disciplines too, such as stand-up comedy and street theatre, rewards are given to new talent. This way, in 2001 Wim Helsen gets the public award for the best stand- up comedy and street theatre artists like Sven Roelants, Hardy Tumbleweed, Cirq’ulation locale and many others get a reward at the PAF contest ( Performing Arts Festival) at Theater Aan Zee.
2001
Tourism Ostend puts in a great effort, as well financially as logistically, but within its specific task, can’t put up with the growth and technical needs of the festival. On 1st April 2001,TarTarT non-profit organization is founded by Luc Muylaert, Luc Bosmans, Jan Timmermans and Don Verboven. Next to purely receptively dealing with final projects of young professionals, more and more attention is paid to creation. Residential awards are granted , allowing the laureates to create new productions for the next edition of the festival.
2002 - 2004
Seen the tendency in the theatre scenery to work interdisciplinary and in order to stimulate that tendency, in 2002 the festival starts with a modest programming of young musical talent. In 2003 Mira Bertels gets an honourable mention and in 2004 Theater Aan Zee decides to start a contest for Young Music ( similar to the Young Theatre contest) . In the same year, a European exchange of productions of young stage performers and young theatre technicians is started with festivals from abroad. This way the monologue Before… Existential make-over of Laura Van Dolron is selected for the International Young Makers Marathon, a European exchange programme in which Theater Aan Zee participates. Our laureates get the opportunity to experience networking and practice in England, Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
2005
Theater Aan Zee keeps growing and gains interest as well with the public as within the sector. Till 2005 the complete organization was in the hands of a limited group of volunteers and further professionalization was necessary. Tartart VZW files an application to qualify for subsidy to the Flemish Community and from 2006 onwards it is recognized as and subsidized as a professional arts festival. From 2005 onwards, the festival gets a trendy house style and from now on we speak about TAZ, with a clear separation between the purely entertaining and the cultural programme: TAZ ON presents a central guest with relatives, young theatre and musical talent and a literary programme. The ingredients of TAZ OFF are: street theatre, mass spectacles, a family park and comedy.
2006
In the TAZ ON programme, from 2006 onwards, a central guest for music has been invited next to the central guest for theatre. With guest curators such as musician Stef Kamil Carlens of Zita Swoon and actress Marijke Pinoy, TAZ profiles as a theatre and music festival. Steven Heene en Pieterjan Vervondel become programmers of respectively Young Theatre and Young Music and up till now they co-ordinate the theatre and music programme, together with the central guests. This way in 2005 the TAZ Band is created, with the musicians of Arno. Together with a front man they put up a number of unique concerts on TAZ This way, guest curator Stef Kamil Carlens and the TAZ Band paid a tribute to Bob Dylan in 2006.
Even in autumn
Next to working with two guest curators, who present their own work and invite artistic relatives, TAZ also engages deeply, into the support of young producers. Being the co-producer of young talent in theatre and music, TAZ takes the laureates of every edition onto a tour which is baptised ‘ Groeten uit Oostende’. During autumn, this tour attends the most important houses of Flanders and the Netherlands offering stage experience to the laureates as well as bringing them into contact with future employers.
2007
The recognition and the subsidizing allows TAZ to follow the laureates into their attempt into a professional career. They get a great amount of technical and administrative support. This support is not explicitly included into our festival application procedure, but constitutes a part of the creative year working and that’s why at the start of 2007 TarTarT vzw files an application to the Flemish community to be recognized and subsidized as an arts centre. From 2008 on TarTart vzw wants to enlarge the year working and wants ( next to the festival that will keep its complete autonomy),to realize cultural projects in the city of Ostend, throughout the year.
The city council of Ostend is involved in this project and supports the application for an arts centre.