“Make Silence Audible, Visible, and Tangible” attracted many visitors and sparked a strong response among Gouda residents. The goal of the project was to break the taboo surrounding depression and suicide among young people through art and culture. A follow-up program is now in the works.
SILENT STRUGGLE
In December 2024, the artwork “Silent Struggle” was on display at Erasmusplein in Gouda. SAZZA’s sculpture draws attention to depression and suicide, the leading cause of death among young people in the Netherlands. The work has previously been on display in cities across the country, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, Maastricht, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Haarlem. It will now find a permanent home in Katwijk aan Zee.
MAKE SILENCE HEARABLE
For Cultuurhuis Garenspinnerij, the arrival of the sculpture marked the start of the art project “Make Silence Hearable, Visible, and Tangible.” Through theater, visual art, and music, feelings of depression and loneliness were expressed. The many visitors and participants drew support and comfort from the project and engaged in conversation with one another, with artists, and with healthcare professionals.
FOLLOW-UP PROGRAMFOR "
" The mental health of young people is under strain and deserves our attention, even now that "Stille Strijd" has left Gouda. The organization has therefore decided to continue the collaboration between healthcare, social services, and culture, and a recurring follow-up program is in the works. In this way, the collaborating parties aim to systematically break the taboo surrounding mental health. Want to stay informed? Keep an eye on the Garenspinnerij’s calendar viawww.cultuurhuisgarenspinnerij.nl.
MEET UP IN GOUDA
In addition to “Make Silence Audible,” there are numerous initiatives where Gouda residents can meet up. For example, the “MIND Blue Monday Run”: the most uplifting running and walking event of the year, taking place on Monday, January 20. Cultuurhuis Garenspinnerij organizes ‘GarenSinging Blue Monday’ annually, a cheerful occasional choir that meets three times in January. You can still join this year via www.cultuurhuisgarenspinnerij.nl. Do you feel the need to talk about mental health? You’re welcome at the ExpEx Experience Café run by the KernKracht Foundation. For more information, visit www.kernkracht.nl.“Make Silence Audible, Visible, and Tangible” is an initiative of Cultuurhuis Garenspinnerij-De Kunstmachine, “Your Stories” Youth Theater House, StudioGonz, Stichting KernKracht, and the municipality of Gouda.
Are you thinking about suicide, or are you worried about someone? Talking about suicide helps, and you can do so anonymously via chat at www.113.nl or by phone at 0800-0113.
