Aalten and Bocholt residents invited to share stories in cross-border art installation
Residents of Aalten and Bocholt can contribute their stories, poems, or songs to the Textmachine, an interactive art installation. This unique project fosters cross-border connections and creativity, with your voice becoming part of a public display for all to experience.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Textmachine |
| Artist | Karo Kollwitz (German) |
| Municipalities Involved | Aalten (Netherlands) and Bocholt (Germany) |
| Contribution Types | Stories, poems, raps, songs, or spoken messages |
| Installation Details | 23 buttons on a lamppost, each playing an audio fragment |
| Display Duration | 2 months in Bocholt (June onwards), 2 months in Aalten |
| Registration Period | 1–20 April 2026 |
| Available Spots | 12 for Aalten residents |
| Funding Bodies | Kultursekretariat NRW Gütersloh, Ministry of Culture and Science (NRW) |
| Registration Link | Online form |
The municipalities of Aalten and Bocholt collaborate annually on cross-border art projects to strengthen cultural ties and community engagement. These initiatives are part of broader efforts to promote cooperation and shared identity between neighboring regions, transcending national borders.
Read the full translated article below
International art project seeks participants – will you join?
Every year, the municipalities of Aalten and Bocholt collaborate on a special art project. This year’s project is the Textmachine, an interactive installation where residents can share their own stories and creations. Designed by German artist Karo Kollwitz, the Textmachine travels across Europe. The installation brings together stories, poems, and more in an interactive display attached to a lamppost. The art project is coming to the municipality of Aalten, and you can participate!
All residents of the municipalities of Aalten and Bocholt are warmly invited to contribute. Whether you have a story, poem, rap, or spoken message, all original creations are welcome. Age, background, or experience do not matter. Your voice and story will bring the artwork to life and make it heard in both municipalities.
The Textmachine is an installation with 23 buttons attached to a lamppost. Behind each button is an audio fragment: a story, poem, rap, song, or spoken message. The installation will be on display for two months in Bocholt starting in June, followed by two months in Aalten. A total of 23 fragments will be recorded by residents of Aalten and Bocholt. This creates a unique exchange of stories and perspectives, accessible to everyone in public spaces.
Why this art project?
The municipalities of Aalten and Bocholt organise a cross-border art project every year. In 2025, for example, part of the Grenslandmuseum in Dinxperlo was wrapped in blocks by German artist Garvin Dickhof. Art transcends language and culture, showing that cooperation and coexistence do not end at the border. The Textmachine connects, surprises, and broadens our shared world.
How to participate and register
You can register from 1 to 20 April by filling out the registration form. There are twelve available spots for contributions from the municipality of Aalten. If more applications are received than available places, the municipality will select from all submissions.
This project is made possible in part by the Kultursekretariat NRW Gütersloh and the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.