Muzikale communities en mapping van het Antwerpse jazzlandschap in Rataplan
Netwerkmoment
Muzikale communities en mapping van het Antwerpse jazzlandschap in Rataplan NL (ENG below)
Op donderdag 9 oktober 2025 bundelen Rataplan, Jazz&mo’ (Muziekmozaïek), VI.BE en de Stad Antwerpen hun krachten voor een inspirerende dag voor iedereen die betrokken is bij jazz. Verwacht boeiende gesprekken, informele uitwisselingen en performances van Rataplan-artiesten, met thema’s zoals gemeenschapsopbouw, representatie, kunsteducatie en artistieke ontwikkeling.
Het event maakt deel uit van een muzikale mapping van de Antwerpse jazzscene en wordt gedragen door een breed netwerk van artiesten, organisaties en partners zoals Publiq, De Roma en Arenberg. Het is een unieke kans om te connecteren, ideeën uit te wisselen, geïnspireerd te raken door best practices en nieuwe samenwerkingen op te bouwen. Schrijf je in! 09.10
Programma
12.00u. – Lunch (breng je eigen lunch mee)
13.30 u. – Officiële opening & gesprek over artistieke gemeenschappen met André Marmot (UK) en Kurt Overbergh (Ancienne Belgique)
15.00 u. – Interactieve rondetafelgesprekken over #JazzinAntwerp, representatie en inclusie, alternatieve collectieven, community building en kunsteducatie
16.30 u. – Netwerkborrel met muziekfair en activiteiten door partners
18.00u. – Diner door De Kompaan
20.30u. – Jamsessie met FLINTA line-up
Hoogtepunten
Welkom door drie bijzondere gasten De middag begint met een officiële verwelkoming door Lien Van de Kelder (Schepen voor Cultuur, Werk, Gelijke Kansen en Internationale Solidariteit) en Esohe Weyden (Stadsdichter Antwerpen). Jaouad Alloul (artiest) fungeert als gastheer en gidst je door het programma.
Gesprekken over Artistieke Gemeenschappen André Marmot (muzikant, booker bij Earth Agency) presenteert zijn boek Unapologetic Expression, over de radicale nieuwe golf van Britse jazz, geworteld in verzet, identiteit en culturele wedergeboorte. Tijdens een dynamische vraag-en-antwoordronde zal hij in gesprek gaan met Kurt Overbergh, artistiek directeur van Ancienne Belgique, en nieuwe inzichten geven in een van de meest opwindende muziekbewegingen en artistieke gemeenschappen van dit moment.
Informeel en out-of-the-box netwerken
Tijdens het evenement staat netwerken op een speelse, verrassende manier centraal. DJ Ramos brengt zijn geweldige gevoel voor ritme naar de informele ontmoetingsruimtes en zorgt voor de juiste sfeer tijdens een funky lunch, een smaakvol diner, een groovy receptie of energieke pauzes tussen de sessies door. Je kunt ook op onverwachte manieren contacten leggen op de Music Fair en in The Hub, het kloppende hart van het evenement. Het is een warme, bruisende ruimte vol gesprekken, inspiratie, drankjes en toevallige ontmoetingen. Kom langs, blijf een tijdje, ontmoet nieuwe mensen of neem gewoon even pauze. Alles kan. En mis de nevenactiviteiten van onze partners niet, zoals een kortfilm van Sound in Motion.
Interactieve Rondetafelgesprekken
#JazzinAntwerp: Wie is wie en de toekomst van onze scene Met Mathilde Luijten (Trix, I’m The Hug, Overlast), Christel Kumpen (Arenberg, Sound in Motion) & TBC
Ontdek de Antwerpse jazzscene: netwerken, key players leren kennen, good practices uit andere steden bekijken en bijdragen aan de toekomst van de Antwerpse jazz.
Beyond Ticking Boxes: Diversiteit en representatie in Belgische jazz Met Pamela Evbuomwan (VRT), Arlette Hovinga (That Jazz Girl, NL) & Arowah (Queer Jazz, Jelly Cleaver, B.H.A.M., UK)
Onderzoek hoe je verder kan gaan dan ‘checkbox’ oplossingen en diversiteit echt kan verankeren. Inclusief praktische voorbeelden en discussies over FLINTA-bandleiders, veilige subcommunities en generatie-overstijgende initiatieven.
De rol van artiesten en alternatieve collectieven Met Bert Cools (Granvat), Lobke Aelbrecht (NEST) & Tomas Casella (MARI’S)
Focus op hoe artiesten hun rol in het muziekecosysteem kunnen herdefiniëren en hoe alternatieve collectieven nieuwe platforms creëren. Bespreek uitdagingen zoals gatekeeping, carrièrepaden en eerlijke praktijken.
It Takes a Village… Artistieke gemeenschappen en publieksbetrokkenheid Met Jan Wallyn (Publiq), Junior Akwety, Charlie Fenemer & Fred N’Tephe (Neue Grafik, Orii Community, UK)
Verken hoe lokale gemeenschappen actief kunnen deelnemen, co-creëren en culturele ruimtes mede-eigenaarschap geven.
Waarom toegang tot kunsteducatie belangrijk is Met Els Van Effelterre (JES – Jongeren maken de Stad), Karen Claessens (Tarmacadam), Yahyah Choua (MetX) & Hanne De Backer (JazzCamp For Girls)
Bespreek het belang van toegankelijke muziekeducatie voor kinderen en jongeren, en hoe inclusieve programma’s zoals jams, residencies en jeugdensembles gemeenschappen kunnen opbouwen.
Jamsessie met FLINTA line-up
We zijn verheugd om het avondprogramma te openen met een FLINTA openingsband!
Line-up:
Jessica Boyeleba Balehen – stem & piano
Rahmat Emonds – stem, gitaar & viool
Laïla Amezian – stem
Adia Vanheerentals – saxofoon
Marjolein Vernimmen – harp
Lara Rosseel – contrabas
Karen Claessens – percussie
Anke Verslype – drums
Deze bijzondere sessie brengt voor het eerst artiesten uit diverse muzikale achtergronden samen en biedt een veilige, vrije ruimte voor FLINTA-personen en bondgenoten (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans & Agender) om te spelen, experimenteren en schitteren zonder druk.
Na hun set wordt het podium geopend voor het publiek: neem je instrument, stem of nieuwsgierigheid mee en doe mee!
Musical Communities and Mapping Antwerp’s Jazz Scene at Rataplan
ENG
On Thursday, October 9th, 2025, Rataplan is teaming up with Jazz&mo’ (by Muziekmozaïek), VI.BE, and the City of Antwerp to host an engaging day for everyone involved in jazz. Expect thought-provoking talks and informal exchanges on themes like community building, representation, arts education, artistic development, and many more. Throughout the day and into the evening, you'll also enjoy performances by some of Rataplan’s regular artists.
As part of a musical mapping of Antwerp’s vibrant jazz scene, this event is brought to life by a broad network of artists, organizations, and partners including Publiq, De Roma, and Arenberg. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to connect, exchange ideas, get inspired by best practices, build new alliances, and help put our musical scene on the map. Join us! 09.10
Program
12:00 PM – Bring your own lunch 1:30 PM – Official welcome & a conversation on Artistic Communities with UK author, booker and musician André Marmot and Kurt Overbergh (artistic director Ancienne Belgique) 3:00 PM – Interactive Roundtables on #JazzinAntwerp, Representation and Inclusion, Alternative Artistic Collective Models, Community Building & Arts Education 4:30 PM – Networking Drink (incl. music fair & other activities by partners of the event) 6:00 PM – Dinner by De Kompaan 8:30 PM – Jamsession with FLINTA line-up
Highlights of the day
Welcome by three special guests
The afternoon opens with an official welcome by Lien Van de Kelder (City Councillor for Culture, Employment, Equal Opportunities, and International Solidarity) and Esohe Weyden (Antwerp City Poet), who will kick off the networking event. Your host for the day is Jaouad Alloul (artist), who will guide you through the different parts of the program.
Conversations on Artistic Communities
Author André Marmot (musician, booker at Earth Agency) joins us to present his book Unapologetic Expression, an exploration of the radical new wave of UK jazz and its roots in resistance, identity, and cultural rebirth. He will dive into conversation with Kurt Overbergh, Artistic Director of Ancienne Belgique, in a dynamic Q&A that promises fresh insights into one of today’s most exciting music movements & artistic communities.
Informal & out-of-the box Networking Throughout the event, networking takes center stage in playful, surprising ways. DJ Ramos will bring his killer sense of rhythm to the informal meeting spaces—setting the mood for a funky lunch, tasteful dinner, groovy reception, or energizing breaks between sessions. You can also connect in unexpected ways at the Music Fair and in The Hub—the beating heart of the event. It’s a warm, buzzing space full of conversations, inspiration, drinks, and chance encounters. Drop by, stay a while, meet new people—or simply take a breather. Anything goes. And don’t miss the side activities hosted by our partners, such as a short film by Sound in Motion.
Interactive Roundtable Sessions
Get inspired by good practices and each other in these exhilarating interactive sessions. We create space to exchange about pressing topics, guided by visionary speakers and moderators:
#JazzInAntwerp: Who’s Who and Focus on the Future of our Scene Mathilde Luijten (Trix, I’m The Hug, Overlast), Christel Kumpen (Arenberg, Sound in Motion) & TBC
Discover Antwerp’s vibrant jazz scene in this one-hour roundtable for musicians, policymakers, and music organisations working on jazz in Antwerp and beyond. Christel Kumpen, together with a city arts policymaker, will map out key players, share insights from the city’s music consultation history, present good practices by similar cities and explore current challenges and opportunities. The session invites participants to get to know each other and contribute to shaping the future of Antwerp jazz. Join us to connect, reflect, and help sustain this dynamic urban music scene.
Beyond Ticking Boxes: Sustaining Diversity and Representation in Belgian Jazz Pamela Evbuomwan (VRT), Arlette Hovinga (That Jazz Girl, NL) & Arowah (Queer Jazz, Jelly Cleaver, B.H.A.M., All Day Breakfast Cafe, Musical Meditation, UK)
Join this roundtable if you want to explore how to move beyond “checkbox” approaches and truly sustain diversity and representation in Belgian jazz. This session is for artists, institutions, HR professionals, and anyone engaged with inclusion in the music sector. Pamela Evbuomwan will moderate this session, introducing the current landscape and highlighting challenges around gender and cultural background. Arlette Hovinga and Arowah will share inspiring good practices like Queer Jazz or JazzSisters, followed by a collaborative discussion on supporting e.g. future FLINTA bandleaders, creating safer sub-communities, and addressing needs across generations. Through testimonials, reflections, and practical insights, participants will explore what the jazz sector can do—and what they are already doing—to make Belgian jazz more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant.
Examining Today’s Musical Ecosystem: On the Role and Positioning of Artists and How Alternative Artistic Collective Models Reclaim Space Bert Cools (Granvat), Lobke Aelbrecht (NEST) & Tomas Casella (MARI'S)
This session will focus on empowering artists and rethinking their role within the music ecosystem. Designed for artists, educators, and organizations supporting artistic development, the session highlights how alternative models and collectives are taking initiative to create their own platforms and claim agency. Speakers will reflect on challenges such as gatekeeping, career pathways, fair practice, and systemic barriers. Participants will discuss how artists can be placed at the center of the ecosystem and explore ways to collaborate with institutions to support self-empowerment, sustainable careers, and open, inclusive artistic opportunities.
It Takes a Village... on Artistic Communities and Audience Engagement in Metropolitan Cities Jan Wallyn (Publiq), Junior Akwety (artist), Charlie Fenemer and Fred N'Thepe (Neue Grafik, Orii Community, UK) & Katinka Zoethout (Batavierhuis, NL)
Explore how local communities can become ambassadors, co-owners, and active participants in cultural spaces. This session is for anyone involved in artistic development, community engagement, creative hubs, or co-creation initiatives. Moderated by Jan Wallyn, speakers Junior Akwety, Katinka Zoethout, Fred N'Thepe and Charlie Fenemer will share best practices in audience building, community-led programming, and the revival of jams and residencies as tools for inclusion and artistic development. Participants will reflect on micro-communities, the changing demographics of audiences, and strategies for embedding communities into cultural work—both on and behind the scenes. Through discussion, group exercises, and live mapping of networks, attendees will explore how to strengthen community engagement and create sustainable, inclusive cultural ecosystems.
Why Access to Arts Education Matters: Making Music Inclusive and Fostering Creative Agency in Children and Young People Els Van Effelterre (JES - Jongeren maken de Stad), Karen Claessens (Tarmacadam), Yahyah Choua (MetX) & Hanne De Backer (artist, JazzCamp For Girls)
This session highlights the vital role of accessible music education in fostering creativity and agency among children and young people. Designed for educators, cultural organizations, and anyone invested in arts education, the roundtable explores alternative approaches to teaching music and empowering young makers. After hearing about some best practices from these speakers (e.g. JazzCamp For Girls, Fanfakids, StrakX), participants will engage in group discussions, exchanging ideas on how e.g. jams, residencies, youth ensembles and other inclusive programs can build communities, increase representation, and lower barriers to participation. The session also reflects on the societal importance of arts education, especially in light of decreasing school subsidies, and how the sector can respond to ensure equitable access for all young people.
Jamsession with FLINTA line-up
We are thrilled to announce a very special evening program: our very first FLINTA Jam Night! An incredible line-up of musicians will open the evening with a unique set of improvisations:
This extraordinary gathering brings together artists from diverse musical backgrounds for the first time, promising a one-of-a-kind performance. This idea was born from the need to create an environment where FLINTA people can play, experiment together, and shine without pressure. In the jazz world, jam sessions are still often seen as difficult to access for women and gender minorities. Too often, they have to justify their presence, find their place in spaces that remain overly masculine, nocturnal, and that leave little room for sensitivity, care, and spontaneity.
After their set, the stage will open up to the audience — so bring your instruments, your voice, or simply your curiosity, and join the jam!
*FLINTA stands for Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans and Agender people
