Episode 6: The sociologist, social housing and public space

We start to become familiar with this place as we go again to the outskirts of Antwerp and we explore the integration of art in social housing and public spaces, drawing inspiration from the works of architect Renaat Braem's units at Kiel. These high-rise blocks were built between 1949-1958 in Kiel. It was Braem’s first project where he integrated painting, murals, and sculpture, and shows the importance of the synthesis of the arts. 

Once again, we are at the community centre ‘Nova’, encountering the kindness of its volunteers and residents. After a chat with some of them, we meet our final guest: professor Pascal Gielen, a well-known figure in this field, who works extensively on networks, community arts, commoning, and arts in public space. As we touch upon many different topics, talking with Pascal feels like a trip in itself: we don’t focus specifically on arts in public space, but rather on the broader sense of arts for the community. Pascal shows us that culture has a measurable impact on people’s health, social cohesion, cognition, and the economy, among other things. It supports people in meaning-making and building a shared, symbolic common ground. 

But it can also disrupt the ground under someone’s feet, unexpectedly changing one’s personal life and perception. Perhaps we are already unconsciously aware of that, but this information makes us look at the artist’ profession in another light - one of choice, responsibility, and politics, ultimately. If we need a sensory common ground for a political community, then let the artists shape our spaces!

Concept, realisation and editing: Angelique Campens 
Coaching & sound: Raf Enckels (Herculeslab)
Soundwork & mixing: Melissa Ryke
Opening and closing theme Glenn Miller "String of pearls"
Visuals: design by Veronika Akopyan and photography by Michiel Devijver
Production: Angelique Campens
Text assistance:  Zoë Brennan, Davide Musco 
Project participants:  Veronika Akopyan, Zoë Brennan, Luna Van Bellingen, Menno Eggink, Milan George, Davide Musco,  Jose Zapata Usma, Aagje Vandriessche, Baue Vercammen, Delphine Vo and Hilke Walraven
Coproduction: Nomadic School of Arts
With the support of: KASK School of Arts, Europe NextGenerationEU, Nomadic School of Arts