Location: Playing field 'De Toekomst' ('The Future'), Gorichem
Participants: 190
Visitors: 2,000
Number of events: 21
Additional Presentations: Dutch Pavilion, La Biennale di Venezia, Venice (17.06.2003 - 24.09.2003); Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (03.2004 - 05.2004)

The cultural project Langs de Lijn van de Toekomst (The Future from the Sidelines) took place in the Dutch town of Gorinchem between February and June 2003 as part of the art project 'Kleurrijke Wijken 2002 - 2004' ('Colourful Neighbourhoods'). With The Future from the Sidelines, Van Heeswijk made an inventory of live-and-kicking notions of competition, rules of play, codes of honour, professionalism and - lastly - competence within different (sub-) cultures in the multicultural society of Gorinchem. Around the globe, the 'battle' proves to be a wonderful driving force, not only for sport and play but also for art and culture. Individuals and groups have an inexhaustible desire to show others what they are good at, possibly to surpass others, and if their level falls short of that of others, to zealously prepare for a new confrontation, time and again. According to Guy Debord this is where the essence of cultural progress lies: culture as people's desire to present themselves to each other and then to others.

The central location of the project was formed by a former playing field named 'De Toekomst' (which means 'the future'). The characteristic changing rooms next to the field were reconstructed into a broadcasting studio and workshop space. Residents and visitors could come over Monday through Saturday with their questions, remarks, stories about and memories of playing. Each Monday evening, the programme 'The Future from the sidelines' by Jo van der Spek was broadcast from the building, on the role of sport and games within contemporary cultures, with stories from the neighbourhood and reports from experts. From these programs a whole series of new games was developed that are characteristic for contemporary Gorinchem. In cooperation with 'Gorinchem Beweegt', a series of workshops and game activities was organised in April and May to test and develop these games in preparation for a tournament. With the Turkish and Moroccan communities, an event was organised to celebrate International Children's Day on 23 April. In this way, various participants participated in the development of the games. On 31 May and 1 June, the tournament 'Langs de Lijn van De Toekomst' was held. Strength, knowledge, vision and culture were tested by playing '3-Sided Football', 'BMX Buzkashi', 'Breakelen' ('Break Hop'), 'Draw a Line', 'Battle for the Bridge', 'Elastic Wrestling' and 'Boating besides the Water'. Parallel to these activities the documentary From the Sidelines was filmed by, Klaas van Gorkum, Iratxe Jaio, Sonya Schonberger, giving insight into the daily routine of the Gorinchem club life. This documentary and the video Show Us Your Moves, on the battling during the game of 'Breakelen', were shown at the 2003 Venice Biennale along with Draw a Line as part of the presentation 'We Are the World' in the Dutch pavilion.

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