The Listening Bowls were presented as a gift to the Municipality of Nijmegen on the occasion of Radboud University's 100th anniversary in October 2023. This installation, consisting of two large bowls 50 metres apart, was to be realised along the Spiegelwaal and was intended to share knowledge with society in an accessible way. People would have been able to interact with each other because what was said in one listening bowl could be heard on the other side. The bowls were also intended as a place where people could take a quiet moment to listen to a podcast and/or watch a video clip.
Although the plan was met with enthusiasm by several parties, deteriorating financial conditions are now making it impossible to realise. ‘That is regrettable’, says President of the Executive Board Daniël Wigboldus about having to terminate the project. ‘We appreciate the commitment with which many people have set to work to give the Listening Bowls shape and a place. Unfortunately, the plan no longer appears financially viable, but our ambition to share knowledge with society and make the connection with the city even stronger remains.’
No realisation for Listening Bowls project
The Radboud University project in which two listening bowls (in Dutch: luisterschalen) were to be placed on Nijmegen's Spiegelwaal will not be realised. The idea has become unfeasible due to the deteriorating financial conditions at Radboud University.