Submitted text by Peter Bral, activist at SOS Sint-Anna and supporting staff member, designer and advisor for various art, environment and heritage projects.
SOS Sint-Anna is an action initiated by Mikhail Bezverkhni (winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for violin 1976) together with several committed people who join in. Launched in January 2019, it aims to launch a powerful protest against the planned conversion of the Ghent Sint-Anna Church, regardless of any political, religious and/or ideological conviction.
Their mission
For 365 days, every day from 12-14 hours regardless of weather conditions, Mikhail Bezverkhni will give a protest concert on the steps of the St-Anna Church in Ghent.
The protest is directed against the planned plans of the city council that wishes to convert this historically valuable church into a commercial center.
With this action we want to wake up public opinion. We want to bring people together regardless of their political, religious and philosophical background to protest against it. Solely and exclusively do we want to pursue the goal of convincing the city council of Ghent that their planned plans for the Sint-Anna Church must not be carried out.
Further information
People from far beyond the city limits are already coming to Ghent to support the action.
We are also receiving support from the absolute top of the music world. So too from Sigiswald Kuijken who was exceptionally committed to performing, rain or shine, on Tuesday 15 January between 12 and 14 o'clock on the steps of the St Anna Church.
Marathon protest 2 February '19
We invite everyone who wants to take further action against the conversion of the Sint-Anna heritage site into a Delhaize. How will we take further initiatives? How will we make the concert marathon protest on 2 February a success and an open dialogue for the many residents and other stakeholders?
Saturday 2 February from 12 to 18 hours (likely to run over): on the occasion of Lichtmis there will be a marathon concert where various artists from different fields have already agreed to participate.
This is still very much in preparation but what is already certain is that the Arion trio, a group consisting of Mikhail Bezverkhni himself (violin), Stefaan Bataille (cello) and Sergio Pedro Deroo (viola) at 16 o'clock will perform two compositions by Stefaan Bataille.
- For any further information you can contact me at any time: peterbral@skynet.be, mobile 0475 98 42 48
- Facebook page: SOS Sint-Anna