Developing, Preserving and Connecting Autonomous Artistic Zones Across Belgium

Between 2023 and 2025, as part of an artistic research project for the Flemish Government, a learning network was developed with ten socio-cultural and artistic organisations running autonomous free zones across Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Kortrijk. Under the title Developing, Preserving and Connecting Autonomous Artistic Zones Across Belgium, the project explored how such spaces can be developed, preserved and connected in increasingly “smooth cities”. The network brought together organisations including Stuyverij, Bolwerk, Constructlab, Lieve Zusjes Stoere Broers, Blikfabriek, Rooftoptiger, De Koer, Chinastraat, Toestand and Cultureghem.

Travel

Over two years, the network visited one city at a time. Each visit was prepared by Jan, as part of Endeavour, in collaboration with the local organisations.

The visits explored the programme, management, spatial design, relationship with city administrations and private actors, internal governance, financial and juridical models, culture, volunteering practices and social impact of each organisation. Through site visits and interactive workshops, participants gathered insights into how autonomous free zones operate in different urban contexts.

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A collective workshop helped match challenges and opportunities between practices and cities. Based on this exchange, the network identified which topics should be central in each city visit.

The shared learning process made it possible to compare organisational models, spatial strategies and governance questions across the different free zones. These insights were gathered in a booklet, translating the experiences of the network into a shared resource for the participating organisations and their local contexts.

Transform

The booklet was presented to the mayor responsible for urban development and culture in each city, during cultural events such as parties or film festivals.

The project culminated in Antwerp, where all practices came together in a go-cart manifestation through the city. The procession arrived at the festival Out of Space, where inhabitants living around these autonomous spaces read the manifesto alongside international speakers on the topic.

The festival ended with an all-night party, making visible the collective power of connected autonomous spaces in Belgium and Europe.

As part of an artistic research for the Flemish Government, we developed a learning network of ten socio-cultural and artistic organisations that all run an autonomous free zone in four cities around Belgium. Over the course of two years, we organised a visit per city in which we delved into the programme, management, spatial design, relationship with the city and private actors, internal governance, financial and juridical model, culture, volunteering practices and social impact of these organisations.

Based on a collective workshop, we matched challenges and opportunities between practices and cities and pin-pointed what topics should be central per city. Each city visit was prepared by Jan in collaboration with the local organisations. Each visit included site visits and interactive workshops to gather insights for every practice. All these results were gathered in a booklet that was presented to the mayer of urban development and culture in every city, during a cultural event such as a party or a movie festival. All the practices were brought together on a go cart manifestation through the city of Antwerp that arrived at the festival ‘Out Of Space’ where inhabitants around these autonomous spaces read the manifesto next to international speakers on this topic. The festival ended with an all-night party showcasing the collective power of these united autonomous spaces in Belgium and Europe.