Study visit in Antwerp – 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 Belgium 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 Flanders 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 Flemish Region. 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 Scheldt, linked to the North Sea by the Westerschelde estuary. The Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe 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, Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Hoboken, Merksem, Wilrijk). 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 Mechelen, 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 harbor 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.