Join an exciting debate about the role of art and culture in building an inclusive and sustainable urban community in Brussels and Europe. This is all about how we can bring together the city’s civil society, artists, cultural institutions, universities, businesses, and most importantly, its citizens and young people, in a laboratory for the future.
Brussels has set a goal to become the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2030, and we’re only a year and a half away from presenting our bid book. This is a crucial moment to take stock of what we’ve achieved so far, what’s still ahead of us, and how we can use art, culture, civic engagement, and urban development to strengthen each other in the long-term. During this event, you’ll get to hear from our team who will give you an update on where we stand and where we’re headed. They’ll also share opportunities for everyone to get involved and contribute to this exciting process of co-creation.
So whether you’re an artist, a student, a community organizer, an entrepreneur, or just someone who cares about the future of Brussels, this is your chance to join the conversation and help shape the city’s cultural future.
Srecko Horvat, keynote speaker on 30 june 2023.
Line-up
Cultivating a vibrant and sustainable cultural capital: art, culture, and inclusion in Brussels and Europe.
Day 1 : 28/06/2023
- Fatima Zibouh (Brussels2030) is co-head of mission for Brussels’ bid to become European Capital of Culture. With a doctorate in political science, Fatima Zibouh is a specialist in inclusion and its cultural dimensions.
- Jan Goossens (Brussels2030), is co-head of mission for Brussels’ bid to become European Capital of Culture. He was director of the Royal Flemish Theatre in Brussels (KVS) until 2015 and then co-directed the Dream City arts festival in Tunis.
Building bridges for a Sustainable and inclusive Brussels: navigating urban transitions and transformations
Day 2 : 29/06/2023
- Louise Carlier (Metrolab- UCL). After studying sociology at the University of Brussels, Louise Carlier got a PhD in social and political sciences. She has worked on cosmopolitanism and more specifically on the relationship between its urban and political dimensions.
- Marie-Fidèle Dusingize (UMons)
Panel
- Chérin Layachi
- Maria Lucia Cruz Correia
Imagining a bold and creative future: Brussels as the capital of ideas and imagination for 500 million Europeans.
Day 3: 30/06/2023
- Srecko Horvat is a Croatian philosopher, author and translator, as well as an astute political activist. His books and essays, many of which have been translated into other languages, deal with capitalism-critical movements, emancipation and the development of Europe. Horvat writes regularly for leading media, including The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Der Spiegeland The New York Times. For a number of years he ran the Subversive Festival in Zagreb, a forum for socio-political issues in Southeast Europe. Together with Slavoj Žižek, he published the book What Does Europe Want? The Union and Its Discontents. Srećko Horvat is actively involved in the Democracy in Europe 2025 movement and was one of its founders in 2016.
- Chloé Mikolajczak is a environnemental and social justice activist. For the past 6 years, Chloé Mikolajczak she has been involved and coordinated several campaigns including Fashion revolution Belgium, Right to Repair and Fossil Free Politics, all attempting to create a more sustainable and equitable future.
Panel
- Georgia Brooks (The Nine) Georgia Brooks founded The Nine & The Nine Equality Initiative in 2020, inspired by the many incredible women and associations she encountered in Belgium. Based in Brussels, she is a passionate advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. Since 2017, she is also the Founder and Managing Director of the Fempower Initiative – a non-profit organisation under the auspices of the King Baudouin Foundation that supports healthcare and education projects for girls and young women throughout the Middle East.
- Edward McMillan (The Bridge) Artistic Director of the Theater, The Bridge (Brussels) He is a trained actor and singer and worked in UK theatre between 2009 and 2013, performing in UK tours, regional theatres and on cruise ships. Whilst in London, he produced and directed productions Crazy For You at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Spring Awakening at the Garage Theatre. He has maintained close links with UK creatives in the theatre industry. In addition to his professional experiences in theatre, Edward has prior experience as a business owner; for five years, he ran McMillan Music, a boutique tuition agency for music lessons based in London.
Cultivating Brussels as a cultural laboratory for the right to the city: artistic creation and social transformation.
Day 4: 01/07/2023
- Sjoerd Bootsma – Sjoerd Bootsma is the artistic director of Dutch cultural triennial Arcadia, the follow-up of Leeuwarden-Friesland European Capital of Culture 2018. Arcadia is a large-scale cultural celebration of 100 festival days, built by many international artists, 20.000 active participants and visited by over 800.000 people. Arcadia presents makers and doers who ask how we are ‘good ancestors’ for the generations to come. In 2022 it included a wandering forest of 1200 trees through urban streets, performing and visual arts festivals, music on the mudflats and drama’s on the cliffs, and many more. From large and immersive to small and intimate. Many of the events are free. In the past Sjoerd was part of the team that created and delivered the Dutch European Capital of Culture in 2018. He was co-founder and artistic director of festivals like Explore the North and Welcome to The Village (winner of the European Festivals Association’s EFFE Award 2019).
- Matthieu Goeury – After studying English literature, Mathieu Goeury began by developing musical projects. After working at L’L and Bruxelles Bravo, as well as the Centre Pompidou Metz, Matthieu Goeury joined the Vorruit programming team in 2011, before becoming artistic coordinator in 2015. Since January 2023, he has been director of Les Halles de Schaerbeek.
