The Recycling Park is closed. Your Recycling Team is busy creating
a poetic-musical performance: 30 April, 8pm at Bib Sophia, Schaarbeek.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Word Recyclery?

The Word Recyclery is a Pop-Up Recycling Park for difficult words. It is a poetic and artistic project by Stien Michiels/STI.LL in which visitors are invited to leave behind words that touch, burden, or move them. These words are transformed and incorporated into a live performance.

What do you mean by Pop-Up?

By Pop-up, we mean that The Word Recyclery appears temporarily and locally, each time at a new location. It is not an ongoing or fixed project, but a mobile, temporary installation that settles in a library or other welcoming place for a limited period. The project then moves to the next location, where it comes to life again with new words and encounters.

Can I leave any word?

Yes, all words are welcome. What is difficult for you does not have to be difficult for someone else and vice versa. There is no list of 'correct difficult words'. It is about your experience. The only thing that cannot be recycled is people's names. We do not do voodoo in the Recycling Park. So no, we cannot recycle your neighbour or ex-partner ;-) But do feel free to bring in the word 'neighbour dispute'. Or a swear word that keeps haunting your mind.

What does the performance involve?

The performance is a poetic ritual in which the collected words are transformed into a musical and connecting whole by Stien and a musician. Visitors can choose whether to participate actively or simply be a spectator.

Who is the driving force behind The Word Recyclery?

Stien Michiels is a word artist, singer-songwriter with STI.LL, ceremony speaker, facilitator, and multidisciplinary theatre maker with decades of experience in participatory work. She is the founder of the STI.LL project and has performed in various places in recent years, such as cultural centres, community centres, libraries, living rooms, festivals, and events. More about Stien and STI.LL can be found at www.stillstien.com

Which musicians does Stien work with?

At this moment, Stien works closely together with the amazing cello player Renke Van Impe. Depending on the location, context, and availability, Stien also works with one of the many fantastic musicians from her network.

Where and how can you leave a word?

Words are collected during the first two weeks via an online menu and in a 'drop box' at the place of residence. Stien herself is present for a few half-days during that period to receive words and stories.

Will I still recognise the word I left behind?

No, not literally. Your word is reduced to its essence: letters, breath, sound, space, rhythm, vibration. Stien is inspired in her performance by the content of the words and stories she receives. In the menu, you can also indicate how you would like Stien to process and recycle the words. In this way, you greatly influence the performance.

Can I programme The Word Recyclery myself?

The Word Recyclery fits perfectly in places that are open to a warm, participatory project. We think of libraries, but also community centres, cultural houses, care institutions, schools, theatres, and neighbourhood projects. Wherever people gather around language, feeling, and connection, the Pop-Up Word Recyclery can land. So yes, do invite us!

Can I also leave a word in another language?

Yes, any language. Stien speaks Dutch, French, English, and German, a little Spanish, and for the rest she consults Google Translate.

How much does it cost to leave a word and/or come to the performance?

You can leave your word completely free of charge. You can also choose to pay a processing contribution of 5, 10, or 15 euros, and thus support this project.

Depending on the location where The Word Recyclery is in residence, you may pay an entrance fee for the performance. This varies from residency to residency. More information can be found in the Agenda.

What happens to the words left behind?

They are recycled into poetry, silence, sound, and language and incorporated into a literary performance with jazz influences and improvisation.

What does this solve? You're not stopping a war, a quarrel, or pain with this.

Not literally, no. The Word Recyclery cannot perform miracles, unfortunately. What it wants and can do is bring a little more softness and beauty into your body and mind. Press the pause button on a record that keeps playing. Show that you are not alone with your restlessness, your worrying. That many people lie awake over the same things. Which may allow us to look at our challenges with a different, softer, more relaxed gaze. And thus take wiser action.