Last week we were invited to spend a lovely day at Metarage in Brussels.
We were joined by the whole Metarage team, Karen from Ultima Vez, Thomas from le BAMP and a cool bunch of artists associated with Metarage… We talked about “collaboration” in the performing arts field: our needs & desires, as artists, as organisations, as a sector, as people… And we brought our knowledge & experiences together through some of the frameworks that we as MAP/ WIPCOOP have created over the years: Mapping Our Practices, The In-Between Space and Moving Together. Sooo here’s how the day went:
Enchanté
After a playful warm-up by Lila Magnin, we got to know each other a bit better. Through a series of speed dates 💕 we challenged participants to introduce their practice in just a few sentences before moving on to the next encounter.
MAPping Our Practice
Artists paired up to exchange experiences and knowledge about navigating the arts field. Together they mapped organisations, funding opportunities, theatres, networks and support structures, while sharing both inspiring encounters and challenges.
The In-Between
Throughout the day, Metarage created generous spaces for informal exchange. With (veryyy tastyyy btw!) food, drinks and cosy corners scattered across their house, there was room for spontaneous conversations, new connections and moments of reflection between sessions.
Moving Together
We gathered in two groups to reflect on our shared experiences as artists and cultural workers. Conversations ranged from balancing artistic passion with professional/personal realities, to building sustainable networks, to convincing organisations to take a chance on you, finding your own voice and value within the arts landscape, and creating space for collaboration, co-creation, experimentation and care. Again and again, the same idea surfaced: none of us build a practice alone. Taking time to connect, to find allies in your journey, to exchange knowledge and support one another remains one of the most valuable resources we have.
To conclude the day we had a sweet goodbye session with gorgeous tiramisu and healthy fruit skewers. We all took things with us home (not the furniture) like: a reminder of the importance of saying yes to (networking) encounters like these, the value of creating a warm welcoming spaces, and of allowing yourself to go after the things you want and need… TOGETHER :—) So, we all left with our hearts, notebooks and stomachs full ❤️
