On September 19, 2026, A Percussion Piece, a large-scale performance bringing together about 1,200 participants in solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners and in support of freedom, will take place in Amsterdam.
Participants in the performance will wear cardboard masks featuring images of real Belarusian political prisoners and jointly create a sound composition using ordinary household items: pots, buckets, cans and other improvised percussion instruments. In this way, individual stories will come together in a single collective voice — a symbol of support for those whose voices are being forcibly silenced today.
The project is being implemented by antiwarcoalition.art, an international team of Belarusian and Ukrainian cultural figures, in partnership with human rights and cultural organisations across Europe. Support from ArtPower Belarus has made it possible to prepare and stage this large-scale artistic event, which uses contemporary art to draw attention to political repression and the fragility of freedom.
Ahead of the performance, a public discussion will also take place in Amsterdam on September 5, featuring Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, philosopher Volha Shparaha and other participants. The discussion will focus on freedom, human rights and the role of art in times of repression.
The organisers have opened registration and are inviting anyone interested to join the performance.
Registration is available here.
