In his role as guest musician, Maris is to develop his own projects that will invigorate the local cultural scene and strengthen the festival's international network. Intimate mini-concerts, collaborations with the castle theater, as well as his own projects and performances during the festival will be organized. The musical work with children and adolescents is also a focus of the collaboration.

Bart Maris was born in 1965 and lives in Ghent, Belgium. The musician has been awarded, among others, the Zamu Prize for the best Belgian musician as well as the cultural prize of the city of Ghent. The Improviser in Residence is a project of the Moers Festival and is funded by the NRW Arts Foundation and the city of Moers.

As Improviser in Residence, he gives various concerts.