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The Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) ForwArt Project [Tilburg, Netherlands]
Culture is important for the social cohesion in a city and performing arts in particular provide a unique platform
for the exchange of multicultural backgrounds 85, Marcelle Hendrickx, alderman responsible for culture, youth and education at the Municipality of Tilburg (Netherlands), and member of the European Committee of the Regions.
ForwArt explores how culture can become an agent for social transformation. The project is built on the premise that culture is inherent in us, it is an identity; when we express our identity, it becomes culture. Project partners include local authorities, educational, training institutions and arts companies, such as the local theatre. By building spaces and supports for diverse cultural expression in North Tilburg, the project encourages youth who are minoritized in relation to their racial and religious identities to express the intrinsic culture inherent in them and thus build up subjective well-being. It also has created awareness in its participants that they have the power to challenge people in decision-making positions. For example, residents participating in ForwArt noticed that the only place that people in North Tilburg could meet was the local football field, or the public park, both dominated by men. Yet, in some cultures, for instance amongst local Muslim communities, sharing public space between different genders is a barrier to public participation. Thus, when the project rented a small atelier and workshop space, women of the community redesigned this space to reflect their identities and create a space that would welcome them. The space now hosts many different groups. Both the fashion and drama groups are building on and benefiting from knowledge the women of the community bring in. FashionClash86 for example is an initiative that supports young emerging fashion makers around the question How can fashion contribute to a better, healthier and more inclusive society? ForwArt also creates permanent art expressions, such as places for urban sculptures, that make public space welcoming and open for individual expressions of culture and identity. The new urban symbols are more representative of the diversity of the neighbourhood, make visible and celebrate the rich heritage of all residents.
ForwArt © UIA (2021)
85 Urban Innovative Actions, ForwArt - Moving forward with the power of art: from a place to hide to a place of pride , see at: https://uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/tilburg
86 FashionClash, Second Skin Tilburg , see at: https://www.fashionclash.nl/second-skin-tilburg
Case Study
