Street Arts Information Library
Stapelplein 32
B-9000 Gent

T +32 (0)9 324 36 63
F +32 (0)9 324 80 06

SAIL (Street Arts Information Library)

SAIL came into being because of the international activities of the International Street Theatre Festival (ISTF). Thanks to contacts with domestic and foreign companies, festivals and organisations this archive/documentation centre has grown throughout the years to be the most extensive one in the Benelux, with more than 1000 VHS, 400 DV and 100 Hi8 of an estimated 1800 companies and about 260 festivals. Because of this footage, and all the paper material, the various themes regarding the arts in public spaces and circus arts are well documented.

In 2006 SAIL has started a three-year digitalizing project in order to preserve this unique collection for the future. In this present, technological era it has been proven more and more necessary to preserve archives and documentation by digitalization. This project also gives us the possibility to open the collection in an advanced way which will simplify the looking up of items and give the opportunity to fully utilize the centre.

A digital database will be designed which will make looking up archive material a lot easier. The digitalised files can be called up through the computer, which will make the physical handling of the documents no longer necessary. SAIL is open for professionals, students, researchers and anyone who is interested.

Besides preservation and unlocking, SAIl wants to contribute to promoting the recognition of arts in the public space and circus arts with the public and the government. Sail will support and do research.

The project is supported by different partners: VTi (Vlaams Theaterinstituut), HorsLesMurs / Circostrada (Parijs), Amsab-ISG, Huis van Alijn and Erfgoedcel Gent.