Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The city council awarded Esohe Weyden her role as Antwerp city poet during an official ceremony hosted at Roma in Borgerhout. Culture Alderman Lien Van de Kelder has announced the role of the city council in the appointment of the city poet in her presence at Weyden’s official appointment ceremony.
Esohe Weyden gained formal backing from Antwerp‘s city council during her recognition ceremony at the Roma in Borgerhout as their new city poet. Mayor Lien Van de Kelder joined the event to confirm that the city and poets would work together again after their long separation. At 25 years old, Weyden started as a writer and poet, but she added presenter and legal practice to her resume while pursuing her PhD at the University of Antwerp.
“It is a great honour, and I am very excited because there are many poetry lovers here. I am always very happy when many people come to see poetry and support it. That proves that poetry is not dead, but very much alive, perhaps more than ever.”
Since 2022, the city council experienced difficult times with the city poets before Weyden’s appointment, and a new relationship trajectory started.
During the ceremony, Lien Van de Kelder from Vooruit joined as Antwerp’s new alderman in Culture. The old council alderman Nabilla Ait Daoud and her department’s city poet initiative both parties distanced themselves.
The poets of the city experienced a split from the city council in 2022 when they rejected Ruth Lasters’ poem. The city poets kept going with their work after removing the city government.
Stijn Vrancken of the Antwerp City Poets noted the significance of this renewed collaboration, stating,
“The city is the canvas of the city poets. I think it makes sense for the city to support this story as a partner. I think this is a new start.”
During her two-year appointment as city poet, Weyden will create her artistic plan for Antwerp. She wants poetry to become an essential part of Antwerp’s outdoor environment.
“The beauty of Antwerp is that it is a city that exudes poetry. You can suddenly come across a poem in many places here,”
Weyden said.
Before starting new projects, Weyden needs to work from the foundations created by past Antwerp city poets. Despite lacking official backing, earlier city poets achieved success by spreading poetry across public areas of Antwerp. Weyden wants to maintain artistic tradition and improve her connection to city officials in her upcoming projects.
Alderman Van de Kelder’s support for the new poet
Alderman Lien Van de Kelder showed strong support for Weyden’s job appointment and their developing collaboration prospects.
“As an alderman for Culture, I can only be happy with so much enthusiasm and creativity,”
says Van de Kelder.
“I want to be surprised by Esohe now. I have a number of ideas in my head myself, but she undoubtedly has many more. I look forward to finding each other and doing various projects together.”
Antwerp’s past as a poetry city gives Weyden’s appointment special meaning. Year after year, poets have integrated their craft into Antwerp’s urban landscape to build a space that supports literature. The earlier city poets left behind powerful achievements by putting poetry in unique settings, and Weyden stands ready to build on their work.
“Antwerp breathes poetry,”
Weyden emphasised.
“You can suddenly come across a poem in many places here.”
The city’s longstanding preference for art and culture helps her plans start reaching more people.