cult! cultural network
cult! is the network organization and advocate for culture houses in Flanders and Brussels. cult! connects, supports and defends these open houses. Together with the network members and their cultural workers, cult! looks for solutions to collective challenges.
our team
Leen Vanderschueren
Leen is co-ordinator of cult! She represents cultural houses in the sector and with policy makers.
Fien Bracke
Fien is our communication and network specialist. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact her.
our members
cult! unites an extensive, diverse and dynamic network of local cultural houses all over Flanders and Brussels. The network consists of cultural houses that work intensively with (amateur) artists and local associations, houses that programme culture, houses that focus on community building, houses that engage in all possible combinations, hybrid forms and everything in between. They come in all shapes and sizes, are located in the heartof the city or in a vibrant neighbourhood of a rural municipality and each chooses a focus in their organisation and programming.
organisation
At cult!, cultural houses are welcome to get advice, information, events on relevant themes, network inspiration and so much more.
board
The board of cult! consists of directors of cultural houses and external experts. They set the direction of cult! and assist the team with advice and expertise.
Bart De Motte, Lies Coppens & Wim Vervoort are the co-chairs of cult!. The other board members are: An Verstraeten, Marnix Theys, Pedro Oosterlynck, Annelies De Graeve, Steven Libbrecht, Fred Gillebert, Katrijn Pauwels, Ivo Peeters, Debbie Jacobs, Stijn De Coster and Kevin De Smedt.
partners
cult! engages with partners (cultural and non-cultural) to reinforce each other.
international
cult! encourages its members to keep their eyes open and to pay attention to international contacts. cult! is a proud partner in the Erasmus+ project FULCRUM.
cult! is a member of ENCC.
publications
We research and collect new developments in our sector, together with partners or with our members. In this way, we hope to achieve new insights for the future of cultural houses.
chech out some of our publications
history
Since the sixties, cultural centres and community centres are open, pluralistic houses where art and culture is presented, tasted, excercised and lived in all its forms. In 1973, they get their first decree so cities and municipalities can apply for a grant to finance a cultural officer. Later, in the decree of 2001, they define three clear missions: cultural participation, community building and cultural dissemniation. Today, cultural houses are embedded locally, building on half a century of development. They are given meaning by thousands of cultural workers, people, visitors, volunteers and organisations.
Cultural houses today play a central role in the core of the city or municipality. They are essential for bringing a very wide audience into contact with the very best of art and culture, homegrown or international. At a cultural house, there are no limits to what you can experience. From enjoying a moving local dance performance to the magic of an international circus act, from watching immersive images to learning how to make them yourself. They all have their own identity, and yet they are all connected.
All this time, the culture houses are supported by there association and advocate. As soon as 1975, this organisation was called Fevecc, the Federation of Flemish acknowledged Cultural Centres. In 2001 this changed into VVC, the Association of Flemish Culture- and community centres. And as from 2020 we change again: cult! cultural network was born. Once again ready for our members.