‘Venues, culture & gentrification: Bledarte collective is given free rein’

For the past few years, several neighbourhoods in Brussels have been undergoing gentrification. This change has permeated the culture industry as well. What is the true purpose of new (or not so new) cultural venues that have been set up in certain lower income neighbourhoods? Who are they for? Where does the profit go?

Bledarte is a Brussels-based, bilingual collective of female artists, DJs and event managers with an immigrant background. Their aim is to create a space for young people with an immigrant background through art and culture. To do so, they organise numerous events, including conferences, parties, film screenings, workshops (DJing & theatre) or reading groups.