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Wonder Festival – Open call 2025
Company
WONDER invites companies from all sectors that want to present themselves in a creative and innovative way to participate.
Would you like to present your products/services in a creative way to a wide audience of schools/architects/designers ... Do you want to present how you see the future in terms of sustainability? Would you like to set up an event in an inspiring setting? Or would you like to link your company to a positive, young and future-oriented story? Would you like to support an initiative by young designers or artists?
Submit your proposal for WONDER!
Do you have an idea or proposal without concrete elaboration? WONDER initiates collaborations and will work with you to find a suitable location and partners.
Conditions of participation and return
1. CONTENT
WONDER is unique in Belgium as a platform and connector for creative, innovative, sustainable, digital and social ideas, projects and products from a diverse group of designers, companies, schools, artists, students and organisations. With this, we want to inspire and enthuse a very broad target group of visitors, but above all encourage reflection and open-mindedness, and offer a glimpse of the future.
Your proposal fits within this DNA.
In 2024, we worked with 5 tracks in communication: product, circular, digital, art & kids. Depending on the final programming, the tracks will be expanded or changed for 2025.
WONDER is diverse, we find it very important to give a platform to initiatives by individuals as well as initiatives by e.g. companies and schools. Different creative sectors are covered. Anyone can submit a proposal, as long as the content, presentation and quality match the festival. Where possible, we also link and match participants with each other: in terms of content or location. We aim for a community in which everyone reinforces each other.
2. VISITORS
WONDER welcomes a very diverse group of visitors.
Visitor profiles of the 16,000 registered visitors at the Buda Factory:
68% individuals:
- Families, groups, associations, many from creative and/or entrepreneurial backgrounds.
- Very spread and balanced visitor age: literally visitors of all ages.
16% professionals:
- Professionals: profiles active in design and innovation, recent design graduates, etc.
16% education:
- Students aged 10-18 from West Flanders schools (+-1500 spread over 4 school visit days)
- Higher education students from all over Belgium (+-1000)
Origin: 70% from West and East Flanders.
For edition 2025, we expect +20,000 visitors.
3. PRACTICAL
Your proposal fits within this DNA.
In 2024, we worked with 5 tracks in communication: product, circular, digital, art & kids. Depending on the final programming, the tracks will be expanded or changed for 2025.
WONDER is diverse, we find it very important to give a platform to initiatives by individuals as well as initiatives by e.g. companies and schools. Different creative sectors are covered. Anyone can submit a proposal, as long as the content, presentation and quality match the festival. Where possible, we also link and match participants with each other: in terms of content or location. We aim for a community in which everyone reinforces each other.
2. VISITORS
WONDER welcomes a very diverse group of visitors.
Visitor profiles of the 16,000 registered visitors at the Buda Factory:
68% individuals:
- Families, groups, associations, many from creative and/or entrepreneurial backgrounds.
- Very spread and balanced visitor age: literally visitors of all ages.
16% professionals:
- Professionals: profiles active in design and innovation, recent design graduates, etc.
16% education:
- Students aged 10-18 from West Flanders schools (+-1500 spread over 4 school visit days)
- Higher education students from all over Belgium (+-1000)
Origin: 70% from West and East Flanders.
For edition 2025, we expect +20,000 visitors.
3. PRACTICAL
- Location
- Or: Your expo, installation or event will take place in the centre of Kortrijk at a location you manage. You are responsible for the location.
- Or: You have a proposal, but no location yet. We help you find a location. Every year we look for new and surprising locations in the centre of Kortrijk that we make available to our participants;
- You confirm that you can visit during the entire WONDER period ideally from Thursday to Sunday, but at least on weekends, from 10 am to 6 pm. During the week by appointment (target schools and professionals) is recommended.
- Scenography: the method of presentation is an important part of getting your content across to the audience in an inspiring way. Remember that WONDER appeals to a very broad audience. You communicate how you see this filled in. We encourage sustainable use of materials here.
- Your product or project has not been shown at WONDER before.
- You strive for (professional) quality in both content and presentation. We like to see this ambition in your application.
4. EVENTS
If you add an event/activity/workshop to your initiative, we consider it a great added value. This way, we link various target groups to other initiatives.
Are you looking for a location for an event? If so, we will be happy to look into this for you. The main location, the Budafabriek, is also available for external events. Please contact us.
If you add an event/activity/workshop to your initiative, we consider it a great added value. This way, we link various target groups to other initiatives.
Are you looking for a location for an event? If so, we will be happy to look into this for you. The main location, the Budafabriek, is also available for external events. Please contact us.
5. FEE
A fee is requested for participation of your expo, installation or presentation in the trail and communication. For the ‘companies’ category, a contribution of €950 (excluding VAT) is requested if you provide your own location and €1,450 (excluding VAT) if you do not provide your own location. We will then suggest a location for you.
Would you also like more visibility in general WONDER communication? Become a Gold or Silver Partner! As a Gold or Silver Partner, your company will also receive visibility through logo placement in our permanent logo bar on many online and offline communication media, see ‘6. What do we offer you? View all information on partnerships here or contact us without obligation.
6. WHAT DO WE OFFER YOU?
In 2024, the festival welcomed over 16,000 visitors. In 2025, we expect over 20,000 visitors from all over Belgium.
Selected participants will be included in the official programme. This means:
A fee is requested for participation of your expo, installation or presentation in the trail and communication. For the ‘companies’ category, a contribution of €950 (excluding VAT) is requested if you provide your own location and €1,450 (excluding VAT) if you do not provide your own location. We will then suggest a location for you.
Would you also like more visibility in general WONDER communication? Become a Gold or Silver Partner! As a Gold or Silver Partner, your company will also receive visibility through logo placement in our permanent logo bar on many online and offline communication media, see ‘6. What do we offer you? View all information on partnerships here or contact us without obligation.
6. WHAT DO WE OFFER YOU?
In 2024, the festival welcomed over 16,000 visitors. In 2025, we expect over 20,000 visitors from all over Belgium.
Selected participants will be included in the official programme. This means:
- You will be included in following WONDER communication channels: website, social media etc;
- You will receive an extensive communication package;
- Professional photos will be taken of your initiative;
- You receive posters and city plans;
- An outdoor signage element will be offered to an external location.
Interested in our Gold or Silver Partnership? Check out all the returns here or contact us without obligation.
7. TIMING
Deadline: Entries can be submitted until Thursday 17 April 2025.
Shortly afterwards, the WONDER jury will meet to judge the entries. We will take into account the above participation conditions and the questions on the entry form, where the thematic link to the festival and quality will be prioritised. It will be announced in early May whether your entry has been selected. Communication to the press will start in June (exact dates will be announced later) and the festival communication campaign will start in September.
Shortly afterwards, the WONDER jury will meet to judge the entries. We will take into account the above participation conditions and the questions on the entry form, where the thematic link to the festival and quality will be prioritised. It will be announced in early May whether your entry has been selected. Communication to the press will start in June (exact dates will be announced later) and the festival communication campaign will start in September.