The Boxing Clinic is a fully-catered cultural development programme in the form of a temporary boxing school for a group of 20 (young) adults from the Amsterdam/ Zaanstad region between the ages of 15 and 35.

The project is inspired by the successful Patta Running Team, this time focussing on a different sport and with a broader perspective. Boxing is approached as a holistic practice that not only trains participants physically, but also works on mentality, personal development and artistic expression. Training is interspersed with weekly workshops and lectures in the field of art, culture and philosophy by visual artists from the exhibition and beyond. The clinic is a place where people from different social circles get to know each other, are trained by people who act as positive role models and are exposed to new forms of art and culture.

The boxing ring is designed by visual artist Gabriel Lester. Complete with grandstand and training facilities, it is a stand-alone work of art where daily training is also part of a visit to the exhibition. Together with the guest curators and a number of artists from Het HEM, we organise tours and workshops for the participants to generate new encounters.

The training schedule is designed in collaboration with the Aboro Foundation: the foundation of the Aboro Academy, a professional boxing school in Shanghai founded by Michele Aboro and Masca Yuen.

The boxing team will train for ten weeks on the first floor of Het HEM. Visitors can attend the training sessions from the stands. The training sessions take place on Thursdays and Fridays from 18:00–20:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00–14:00.