Study visit in – Local context and cultural policies

1. About the city

Antwerp Number of inhabitants 516 000

Area in Km² 204,5 km2

Annual budget of the city 1 480 000 000 euro

Annual budget for culture Total amount of 87 800 000 euro for buildings/equipment/overhead, exploitation/operation, staff.

Divided into:

• 35 200 000 euro: local cultural policies: libraries, cultural centra, • 16 000 000 euro: art policies: subsidies of opera, ballet, theatres, filharmonie,… • 36 600 000 euro: musea and cultural heritage

The local/regional context

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of is a small, densely populated country which covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres and has a population of about 11 million people.

Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. It is divided into three regions and three communities, that exist next to each other. Its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the . A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of government

Antwerp is the most populous city in Flanders. Antwerp is on the River , linked to the by the Westerschelde estuary. The Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in and within the top 20 globally.

1

Antwerp has long been an important city in the Low Countries, both economically and culturally, especially before the Spanish Fury (1576) in the Dutch Revolt.

Specific competencies/governance system

The Antwerp city council is composed of: • 47 councelors • The nine members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen • The city secretary

The current city council was elected in the October 2012 elections. The next elections are scheduled for October 2018.

The current majority consists of N-VA (New Flemish Alliance), CD&V (Christian Democratic and Flemish) and Open Vld (Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats), led by mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA).

Members/parties Antwerp City council Seats

New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) 23

Socialist Party Differently (sp.a) 12

Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) 5

Flemish Interest 5

Workers' Party of Belgium (PVDA) 4

Green 4

Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vld) 2

Total 55

The counselor of culture is Philip Heylen (CD&V).

2

The city of Antwerp comprises of 9 departments:

CITY OF ANTWERP

personnel

administrative affairs

culture, sport, youth, education

finance

social affairs

secretary urban management

city urban development

business and citymarketing

districts- and clientsoperation

One is the department of culture, sport, youth and education:

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, SPORT, YOUTH AND EDUCATION

staff

culture

sport department

of youth

head education

3

The subdepartment of culture:

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE

Staff

Art policy

Local cultural policy Bart Govaert Director culture: culture: Director Musea and heritage

The city of Antwerp comprises of 9 districts (Antwerpen, Berendrecht-Lillo-Zandvliet, , , Deurne, , Hoboken, , ).

Each district has a coordinator local cultural policy. Together with the librarian, the coordinator(s) of the cultural center(s) and the coordinator(s) of the community center(s) the cultural team of the

4

district is formed. Together they conduct the local cultural policy and collaborate on the cultural programme and activities within their district.

The local culture policy in a district:

LOCAL CULTURE POLICY/DISTRICT

coordinator local cultural policy

cultural team

social cultural library cultural center center

Every year the city of Antwerp donates a fund to every of the nine district to conduct the local cultural policy. The total amount for the local cultural policy for the nine districts is 35 200 000 euro: local cultural policies: libraries, cultural centra,

Musea, cultural heritage and art policy are led by the city itself. They’re not conducted by the coordinator local cultural policy.

5

Key cultural indicators/facts

In 2015, a total of 778 employees were employed in the cultural department: 421 women, 357 men.

Museums -and heritage institutions:

• owned by the city of Antwerp: 10 • 1.5 million visits to museums • 355 538 objects (of which 320 348 objects available online), 1.65 million books and 4.2 kilometers archive in heritage institutions

Libraries:

• 17 locations • 675,000 visits Permeke library, the biggest library of Antwerp, situated in the Northern, mulitcultural part of the city center • nearly 4 million loans in libraries

Cultural centers:

• 17 locations • 790,000 visits to the cultural centers

6

Local cultural priorities

Local cultural policy: In Antwerp anyone can participate in a wide variety of cultural activities and can develop himself.

• The socio-cultural activities are varied, high-quality, relevant in an urban environment and anchored locally: • The socio-cultural infrastructure is inviting and accessible : • Cultural policy enables residents and visitors to have more collaboration and participation. And to have the opportunity to meet each other

Art policy: The arts and artists are the engine for innovation and creation and ensure that Antwerp remains one of the cultural capitals of Europe.

• Antwerp enables art. • Antwerp shows art. • The residents and visitors of Antwerp love art. • Art builds the city.

Heritage policy: Residents and visitors experience cultural heritage in Antwerp as a shared resource and appreciatie the past as a source of knowledge, inspiration and enjoyment.

• Cultural heritage excites a wide audience and determines the image of the present and past of the city. • Cultural heritage is accessible to a diverse audience and encourages participation. • Cultural heritage provides and encourages reflection, lifelong learning and the development expertise. • Cultural heritage is future-oriented and encourages encounter, quality leisure and creativity. • The heritage policy is coordinated through cooperation and complementarity.

7

2. About the study visit

Main themes Culture for social inclusion, social heritage and intercultural dialogue

Sub themes • Culture for social inclusion • Focus on heritage of migration • Culture and young people • Intercultural dialogue • Local libraries in fostering inclusion and dialogue

Projects and policies to be presented / places to be visited

Name Red Star Line Museum Short Two million passengers travelled from Antwerp to North America onboard the Red description Star Line ships. The museum focuses on their story, on that of the shipping company that transported them and on the city and port from where they embarked on this journey. Session about the history and future plans to achieve involvement and co- creation. Guided tour through the museum

Link http://www.redstarline.be

Name MAS: Museum aan de Stroom Short Antwerp is a city on a river with a port, that has provided encounters and description exchanges for centuries. The MAS collects traces of those exchanges and tells new stories with them. Stories about the city, the river and the port. Stories about the world in all its diversity. Stories about Antwerp’s alliance with the world. It makes the visitors to become acquainted with Antwerp in the world and with the world in Antwerp. Link http://www.mas.be

Name ATLAS: Antwerp and 50 years of immigration

8

Short Monday: workshop: focus on new urbanity en diversity description Tuesday: workshop: wider meaning of language in the city of Antwerp What does Atlas? For adult, non-dutch speaking immigrants. Learning and practising Dutch and course on civic integration. Supporting on further education and participation in society.. For minors and non-dutch speaking parents: informing, directing, supporting, mediating about, studying, welfare and leisure. For organisations and society: sensitize and informing society. Advising and suporting on interculturalis, language policy and language promotion, information point on residence and Legal status, social interpreting and translation. Link http://www.atlas-antwerpen.be

Name Arenberg: Mestizo Arts festival (MAF) Short Workshop: a focus on new urbanity en diversity description Mestizo Arts PLATFORM brings artistic innovation and exploration to cities from Antwerp, via , Ghent, Turnhout and Brussels to Rotterdam, Buenos Aires and Mexico City. A new wave of artists with their view of the world. A mix of theatre, music, dance and image. MAP searches out the city vibes in its MAFfe Fridays, BRAINS, MAPping, Studio Urbanization, Work In Progress and other concepts. All this artistic energy culminates in the annual Mestizo Arts FESTIVAL in October. Link http://mestizoartsplatform.be

Name Het Eilandje: walk Short Het Eilandje (The Islet) is a characterful former dock area, located between the description historic town and the current port. Het Eilandje is transforming into a vibrant district on the waterfront taking into account the maritime past.

The Old Docks transformation is nearly completed: the Cadix is a new residential area on the water and the Montevideo area becomes the cultural and historical place. Two new museums were opened: The MAS and The Red Stare Line. In a second phase the area towards the will be redeveloped. The prominent presence of water, the abundance of open space and the different types of buildings are part of the charm and character typical of the Islet. Link http://www.agvespa.be

Name ‘A Fistful of Memories’: short movie

9

Short To commemorate 50 years of migration youngsters of the district Hoboken made description the short film " Fistful of memories ."

The synopsis of the film is as follows: Omar and his classmates are instructed to make a group work about 50 years migration. Omar gradually discovers the hidden migration history of his ancestors. Viewers go along with a story of friendship, identity, prejudice and migration.

Link Trailer a fistful of memories

Name Het BOS: diner Short Residents of the refugee center of Antwerp will cook the dinner. Via a workshop- description traject they learn to work and cook together. Also they invent a delicious world- dish they will prepare and serve at Het Bos Monday evening.

Het Bos (The Woods): a home for artists, bricoleurs , creators , thinkers and others at the Eilandje.

Het Bos does not only create art but also coffee , soup, biopils , bar-hanging, drivel and party. Het Bos loves difference and all things that differ. Het Bos thinks and acts sustainable, which is its natural state. Het Bos itself is relatively eternal, the things in Het Bos are relatively temporary. Het Bos is an ongoing experiment.

Hiding in Het Bos: a overday cafe with coffee , beer and small menu ; a concert hall , exhibition hall, rooms for theater, film and other show, creation and residential space, recreation room , a kitchen and a mobile restaurant , an inaccessible garden , corners and edges.

Link http://hetbos.be/

Name Bibliotheek Elsschot: language point/ media in libraries/ web point Short Elsschot is situated on the left bank of the river The Schelde. It’s located in a description neighborhood with a lot of public housing. It is a cultural center with the library as a base and brings culture to young and old.

Elsschot includes a workshop and a quiet room. The newspaper and the children's corner are addressed, and there is a real 'boekentoren' built - a structure made of bookshelves with a platform on top. There you can enjoy a book at a height. In the newspaper corner you can enjoy a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper.

In Elsschot there is a language- and medialab and a Webpunt. The conversation group open entry language takes place in the language lab. It gives speakers an opportunity to learn to speak better Dutch. In the medialab digital and creative workshops take place. The Webpunt provides guidance on all computer questions, and also gives 10

computer lessons. Elsschot also offers reading moments and other activities in the library.

Stamp Media is a news agency by young people with news for anyone who wants to hear it

Link http://www.elsschot.be/, http://www.stampmedia.be/

Name Roof apartment Linkeroever: lunch + reading out loud group Short This roof apartment is located on the 25th level of the highest public building on description the left bank of Antwerp. It’s a cozy apartment with 360 degree majestic views. The apartment is only rented to residents and organizations that organize social and cultural activities at the left bank. It can be used for residents' meetings , activities, parties,… Students of Antwerp can study during the block period in the apartment.

Link https://www.antwerpen.be

Name Reading out loud group Short Reading together is listen , enjoy, experience , remember , tell , muse ... description In a small group , we read a story and a poem. Someone reads aloud , together we explore the text , all comments are equally valuable. What unites us is the story , the book, and reading and listening pleasure.

Sometimes you get hit by a sentence that expresses what you think or feel. It is refreshing to note what others recognize in a text. It is not a classic book club : knowledge about the author or the book is not required and you must have not read the book beforehand.

Link http://antwerpen.bibliotheek.be

Name Biodroom Short On April 15, 2012 Biodroom opened for the public. Biodroom is a garden that description consists of more than 500 big bags containing soil and compost. There are also two greenhouses. More than 50 different kinds of vegetables are grown and there is also room for a couple of fruits, trees and flowers. Biodroom functions as a "community garden" for and by residents. More than 250 people are members of the garden and 40 of them come regularly gardening.

Link http://ecohuis.antwerpen.be

11

Name Opening art installation Kunst-Z Short KunstZ (Art Z) is an organization that focuses on training, support and guidance of description actors and performing artists of various origins.

KunstZ provides counseling to newcomers and people from various backgrounds who have an interest and ambition to work in the performing arts sector . Participants can enroll in the kunstZ group . For each participant who registers , an individual track is determined . The group is open to participants with artistic ambition but also for people who want to work behind the scenes.

The participants from the group form the basis of the operation of kunstZ. KunstZ serves as a bridge between the group and the mainstream arts . Where possible, participants move from the kunstZ group to the KunstZ projects , but also to other theater companies , production , training, internships , employment, etc.

Link http://www.kunstz.be

Name Diner at The Zeven Schaken Short This restaurant is located next to City Hall . It serves typical Flemish dishes in description large pots on the table.

Link http://www.de7schaken.be

Contacts in Antwerp

Mieke Van Innovative culture policy coordinator, City of Antwerp Contact: [email protected], 00 32 475 442 759

Gwen de Raeymaekers Staff member department of culture, sport, youth and education, City of Antwerp Contact: [email protected], 00 32 493 65 85 75

12