WONDER festival experiences impressive growth
WONDER Creativity Festival took over 16,000 visitors on a discovery trail through Kortrijk UNESCO City of Design over the past 3 weeks, past 55 exhibitions and installations around design, art, technology and innovation.
In this way, creative talent from all over Belgium and beyond - from young awesomeness to established names - paid tribute to creativity and innovative ideas. In doing so, they inspired the visitors and invited them to shape the future with guts and creativity.
And that clearly struck a chord with the general public. Every year, the festival has seen impressive growth. At the Budafabriek (main venue and the start of the trail of 30 locations), WONDER was able to welcome over 16,000 visitors over the 12 opening days this year. So the total number of visitors across all 30 venues will also be a lot higher. In 2023, the number of visitors at the Buda Factory was 11,000 and in 2022, 5,000.
The festival appeals to a very wide range of visitors from all over Flanders, because of the diverse offer but also because of a broad event and school programme. This is reflected in a very spread out visitor age range. The predominance of young visitors and people in their twenties. With this edition, WONDER proves to be an unmissable event for everyone interested in design, innovation and art.
Aftermovie by Different Video Agency - Zoomers
Fotography by Wallee Productions en Jeroen Verrecht
WONDER is unique in Belgium as a presentation platform for creative and innovative work, ideas and projects by a huge group of designers, artists, students, companies, schools and organisations. WONDER acts as a connecting factor and that concept is clearly catching on!
I am impressed by the strong growth of WONDER. In two years, visitor numbers have more than tripled. The strength of the festival is that it appeals to a very broad and diverse audience with an interest in creativity, innovation and art. From children, pupils and students to seasoned designers and artists. They all find their way to Kortrijk, more than ever the place to be for creative problem solvers.
Initiatives by Designregio Kortrijk:
- WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION, Budafabriek
- Hack The Material, Budafabriek
- Cycles Of Design, Paardenstallen
- WONDER Club House, Broelkaai 6
- FlowStones, Broeltoren Noord
- STARLIGHT SHINE, Patria Grote Markt
- All the Small Things, Patria Grote Markt
- Projection mapping stadhuis, Grote Markt
Thank you to our partners!
WONDER is organised by Designregio Kortrijk and city of Kortrijk, with the support of main partners Nationale Loterij, Aluvision and Deltalight, and partners Fedustria, Compagnie Het Zoute, Zorggroep H.Hart, and Designregio Kortrijk partners Howest, Intercommunale Leiedal, Kortrijk Xpo, Universiteit Gent Campus Kortrijk and Voka West-Vlaanderen.
