Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Namur, Ghent, Bruges, Kortrijk, Leuven, and Molenbeek are Belgian cities vying to be the European Capital of Culture in 2030 alongside Cyprus and another non-EU country. Molenbeek is hosting a festival showcasing its cultural offerings.
Belgium has six cities that want to be the European Capital of Culture in 2030. The cities are Ghent, Bruges, Kortrijk, Leuven, Namur, and Molenbeek. Molenbeek has support from 18 other Brussels areas. One city will be chosen, and that same year, Cyprus and another country outside the EU will also have a Capital of Culture. The application was sent in paper form to the Belgian selection agency this Monday on 1st september, and it was submitted online on Friday.
What are Molenbeek’s plans for the European Capital of Culture 2030?
From October 21 to 23, each city will present its plans to an international jury at the Royal Library of Belgium, with the jury being announced a week before. On October 24, we’ll find out if Molenbeek makes it to the final selection round, and the winning city will be chosen at the end of next year. Jan Goossens, one of the leaders for Molenbeek 2030, expressed confidence in their chances and shared that their proposal is the result of two years of teamwork with local cultural centers, universities, diversity centers, and the government, making them very proud of their efforts.
Jan Goossens shared that the program will focus on four main ideas, making the city fair for everyone, celebrating diversity, improving how people and nature live together, and ensuring safety for all. It will involve Brussels youth, look at the city’s colonial history, and promote connections among residents. There will be an art route through different areas, activities around the Zenne river, and a new museum about migration.
Molenbeek is having a festival called Molenfest from September 12 to 22, showing what it could be like as a cultural capital. There will be theater, dance, circus shows, and movies in different places and on the streets. Jan Goossens says this festival is just a preview of a bigger cultural project they want to create for the future. Many local groups, like Kaaitheater and Recyclart, are taking part, along with local artists and theater companies. The festival connects with other areas and offers a fun, high-quality program that is mostly free. Goossens calls it a warm-up for their plans for 2030, highlighting that future projects should be for everyone.
