Art installation "Poetry Machine" opens at the historic town hall

The interactive poetry machine was unveiled this week in Bocholt's market square. Shaped like a cloud, the artwork has been installed on a street lamp next to the historic town hall. At the touch of a button, visitors can listen to German and Dutch poems from the region.

The Poetry Machine is part of the art project "#artinprogress" by the artist Karo Kollwitz and has previously been installed in Weimar, Hamburg, Zurich and Helsinki. The project can now also be seen and heard in Bocholt.

A cross-border art project

The cloud-shaped installation will initially remain on the market square for two months and will then be presented in Aalten from 4 August. Half of the recorded texts come from the Bocholt region, the other half from Aalten. All the recorded contributions are played back in their original language. Alongside experienced poets, pupils from the Clemens-Dülmer Primary School also took part in the project with poems they had written themselves.

Opening of the Poetry Machine

The project was launched in the presence of Bocholt's deputy mayor, Gudrun Koppers, and the mayor of the Dutch municipality of Aalten, Anton Stapelkamp. ""We in Bocholt are proud of our proximity to the Netherlands. Cross-border cooperation is of great importance to our region", said a delighted Gudrun Koppers. Anton Stapelkamp also emphasised the welcome cooperation between Bocholt and Aalten, adding: "It's lovely to bring some art and poetry to the streets together".

Interactivity of the installation

Freelance artist Karo Kollwitz developed the project as a collaborative art initiative in which people give voice to their thoughts, feelings and perspectives. She describes it as a "community project with people who see the world a little differently". The installation invites residents to stop, listen and discover the linguistic diversity of the region.

Jule Wanders, Head of the Department for Culture and Education at Bocholt City Council, played a key role in organising the project. It is funded and supported by the Gütersloh Cultural Secretariat, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt and the stadtwerker.

The opening events for the German-Dutch Poetry Machine in Bocholt and Aalten are made possible by the Interreg Germany-Netherlands programme and its programme partners, and are co-financed by the European Union (EU).

Further interactive events on the theme of poetry

Two further poetry events are planned in Bocholt over the coming months. The first Bocholt Cultural Walk will take place on 30 July 2026. We are looking for texts and ideas from Bocholt for this event: poems, short scenes, personal thoughts, memories, wishes or observations. Anything that moves the town can form part of the walk. The deadline for submissions is 10 June 2026.

On 17 July 2026, the (Ge)Dicht an die Nacht will take place once again. Poetic, personal, self-written texts by residents of Bocholt as well as by visitors and guests can be submitted for this event. A selection of these will then be read aloud by the performing actors. The deadline for submissions is 1 July 2026.

Submissions for both events should be sent by email to info(at)stadtlandbuehne(dot)de.