Stories of Slochteren

June 3rd 2009

Stories of Slochteren brings the past to life by combining personal memories of 50 years of gas extraction with historical image material. Stories of Slochteren gives the people of Groningen a unique chance to tell their stories about 50 years of gas extraction and to record these stories for the future.

Program
Grandmothers and grandfathers, children and grandchildren have been invited to tell their stories about 50 years of gas extraction in Slochteren in the pavilion on the Fraeylemaborg in Slochteren from June 22 up to and including June 28, 2009.

The pavilion of Slochteren will be opened on Tuesday, June 23 at 2 PM in the presence of Adrie Scheidema, the alderman of culture of Slochteren. Journalist/columnist Herman Sandman will recite a tale of Groningen during the opening. The entire week is filled with activities for young and old, for example: a chatbox as seen on the show ‘man bijt hond’, workshops for school kids and scouts and much, much more! For information on the entire program from June 22 up to and including June 28, 2009 go to the website: www.gasinbeeld.nl/verhalenvanslochteren (in Dutch)

Pavilion
At the pavilion ‘Stories of Slochteren’ visitors can access unique archive images that have been especially selected  from the archives of Sound and Vision, the Filmmuseum, the National Archive and the AudioVisual Archive of Groningen (GAVA) within the framework of 50 years of gas extraction. Archive images of all the important historical moments, for instance, and the dated instruction commercials promoting the use of gas amongst the Dutch population.

On location these personal memories can be mixed with archive images of choice. These personal histories will be broadcast on a spectacularly large screen that is 15 meters wide. They will also be recorded on an USB-stick for at home and placed on the website.

Cultural Summer G50
Stories of Slochteren is part of the anniversary program G50 and the Cultural Summer G50. For more information go to: www.groningengas50.nl (in Dutch)

Organization
The project Stories of Slochteren is being realized within the framework of Images for the Future by the libraries in Slochteren and Hoogezand/Sappemeer, Biblionet Groningen, The Netherlands Public Library Association (VOB), Foundation Netherlands Knowledgeland (KL), the Filmmuseum, Sound and Vision, the National Archive and the AudioVisual Archive of Groningen (GAVA).