Hello Edgeryders team,
When i see puzzlepieces that could fit, it aches and so i need to share this stream of thought with you.
Some of you know i did some preparation for the Brussels Cultural field to look into a possible candidacy for Brussels as European Capital Of Culture. Long story short: we aren’t ideal candidate if we create a more classical bit on the contest. So for a long time i was searching that edge for Brussels which could give it something interesting to run against smaller but more fit (based on winning bit books from the past 10 years) cities like Charleroi, Leuven or Ghent.
One of the interesting reveals from the preparation dossier was that the cultural field (from high end culture till the socio-cultural organisation) want more implication by/with the whole buttom up / emerging Brussel centered field mixing culture / urbanism / social implications… The other reveal was the fact they rather want a 10 year route towards a collective goal, then a 1 year event year where lots of money is pumped. Quite logical if you want to create a sustainable cultural field.
A couple of weeks ago i took part in the Saint-Vide-Leegbeek announcement, or the day that was announced there was a 20th commune in the city regrouping all the empty space and asking for a more humaine policy.
Interesting evening regrouping people from CLTB, Toestand, 123, Communa,… (and also in the line of tought of our Cultural Squad event
While sitting at the bar last week, talking about Brussels future with a friend, two puzzle pieces clicked. The edge i was looking for BRXL2030 was the absurdity to announce the candidacy as the 20th commune and start a bit from empty spaces and their challenge / opportunity for the city. From their lots of things started to click with the dossier i’m attaching here Rapport de consultation BRXL 2030.pdf (2.9 MB)
While i was having this idea, life goes through strange turns, because i got a message from my old collegues at RABBKO (who worked with me on BRXL2030) to debrief tonight about what lays ahead after a standstill due elections and politics. I think i’m going to pitch this idea and see how it rolls out, the people behind Saind-Vide are already really into it, and i thought sharing it here could be a good place to create a soundboard and see how it could enroll within the edgeryders ecosystem
Have a nice week!