Red Sand Project at the Winter Circus

A group of Ghent residents led by Kaj Zwerver expressed criticism of the live World Cup broadcasts (Qatar) by VRT in the Wintercircus, which is funded by public money, through an art performance using red sand and a manifesto. The action denounced the fact that this public event was being used as an opportunistic marketing tool to promote the building. In doing so, human rights violations and the workers killed during the construction of stadiums in the desert were ignored. The initiators called the moral framework of this project into question and demanded that the City of Ghent no longer make the monument available for these broadcasts. The performance was carried out in collaboration with The Red Sand Project, which raises global awareness of modern slavery. The sand was deliberately scattered right up to the threshold, thereby limiting the action to the public space. The manifesto was signed by, among others, TSG ’t Zal Wel Gaan, Extinction Rebellion Ghent, Jongsocialisten Ghent, Jong Groen Ghent, Meldet vzw, and Café Blond.