The project “Sassenstraat Allicht” started as an idea inspired by light collective Beforelight from Athens. The organization was a great source of inspiration and we translated the idea, with permission, into a situation in Zwolle and a little bit bigger. Placing more than 400 lampshades in the public space was quite a challenge, we thought. Within three weeks we had received more than enough in our temporary workshop space in the street. We hoped for 100 pimped lamp shades. There were about 400..... We had workshops with volunteers, kindergartens, nursing homes, families, artists, entrepreneurs and many others from Zwolle and beyond participated. Cool! A special song was made by a group of musicians, and the entire board up and down 400 people were at the opening to sing that song and turn on the lights.
The sassenstraat is one of the oldest shopping streets in Zwolle and the light heart of the city center. The street emotionally consists of two parts. And the entrepreneurs feel the same. With the lighting project, we ensured that the feeling of one street was achieved with the help of light.
The project would last for a maximum of six months, that is two years. It has generated a lot of traffic (+ 30% measured) in the street and it has generated a lot of media and press for the street. There is even a group of people who have started a petition to let the lampshades hang longer ..... The project was very successful, thanks to all the people who worked enthusiastically on this very cool project.
My project won the Cultuur Award Overijssel 2014! how proud can you be. With the money I’ve won, we went out for a meal with our twentie zealous nuts in one of the restaurants in the Sassentraat.