Dreamers2030
Leuven is determined to become European Capital of Culture in 2030. Together with the 3 experts, the Dreamers will be the driving force behind Leuven’s bid to win the title of European Capital of Culture in 2030.
Who is on the Dreamers2030 team?
In the summer of 2023, candidates for the Dreamers2030 team were nominated. Anyone could nominate a Dreamer. We were looking for people from different fields, not just the cultural sector. Everyone was welcome, regardless of age, gender, background or place of residence.
More than 280 people nominated 80 inspirational individuals. The Intendants put together a team:
- An Olaerts (48, from Kessel-Lo)
Journalist, author - Arne Knaepen (33, from Holsbeek)
Community Manager OH Leuven - Barbara Struys (41, from Leuven)
Public mediation and participation Bokrijk, freelance guiding consultant at Gidsenhumus - Bisser (32, from Brussels)
Visual artist - Camille de Keukeleire (29, from Heverlee)
Youth worker, community builder - Dirk Masquillier (60, from Tienen)
Director of Saamo - Ela Grabiec (43, from Leuven)
Director of the Polish school, keeper of giantess Hedwig - Fred Gata (29, from Brussels)
Musician, performance artist, community builder - Georgy Chtchevaev (24, from Leuven)
Organizer of the Queer Arts Festival Leuven, student in cultural studies KU Leuven, performance artist and actor - Jan Paesen (52, from Holsbeek)
Director of Leuven MindGate - Jessika Devlieghere (51, from Kessel-Lo)
Employee care, community, inclusion, and sustainability at Cirkus in Beweging and co-founder of the Palestinian circus school - Joachim Nijs (45, Leuven)
Representative of De Lijn, active in tram and bus cultural heritage - Jonathan Symons (Jones) (46, from Leuven)
Owner of Twits Skate Shop and skater - Joseph Palframan (26, from Leuven)
Visual artist, Casco resident, and organizer of and contributor to a new artwork for Leuven’s town hall on the subject of justice, as part of the Bouts and Beyond exhibition - Josée Lehon (76, from Langdorp)
Art historian, curator, community builder - Judith Caeyers
Architect DMOA - Katrien Rycken (47, from Kessel-Lo)
Director of Leuven 2030 - Koenraad Van Balen (67, from Leuven)
Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, KU Leuven, member of HERKUL, Europa Nostra and ICOMOS - Marília Breite (34, from Heverlee)
Political scientist, environmental activist and founder of Bin Your Butts Leuven - Michaël Cloet (36, from Heverlee)
Owner of neighbourhood bar ‘Bar Stan’, hospitality and cultural entrepreneur - Nadia Nsayi (39, from Kortenberg)
Public outreach, Africa Museum - Ornella Ngomba (Muabana) (34, from Kessel-Lo)
Spoken-word artist, amateur theatre-maker - Piet Jaspaert (83, from Heverlee)
Vice-president of Europa Nostra - Roberta Santucci (47, from Leuven)
Artistic associate, Cie Tartaren - Ronny Mosuse (52, from Wijgmaal)
Singer and musician - Sahim Omar Kalifa (43, from Kessel-Lo)
Film-maker - Sieg Pauwels (45, from Oud-Heverlee)
Coordinator innovation and society De Wissel - Simon Sterck (18, from Herent)
Law student KU Leuven, member of Youth For Climate and Klimaatcoalitie, administrator Leuven 2030, VN-youth representative Sustainable Development for the Flemish Youth Council - Teresa Wouters (29, from Leuven)
Production manager and youth worker fABULEUS - Zoë Demoustier (28, from Schaarbeek)
Choreographer, performer
What do the Dreamers do?
- The Dreamers are ambassadors for Leuven’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2030. Together with the experts they’re the faces of the project.
- They help shape the story created by the Intendants. Each Dreamer approaches it from his or her own perspective, experience, and environment.
- They monitor the project’s mission and objectives, always keeping in mind the common thread of radically new connections.
- They help to consider how the process continues to take shape. They come up with new formats, help to design the programme, take part in working groups and provide input for the bid book.
- They sit on the open call jury.
- They help to facilitate exchange between sectors and in the East Brabant region.
- They incorporate the project into their own operations and network.
What do the Dreamers dream about?
The Dreamers see culture as powering the development of the city, the region, and their inhabitants. The path to becoming European Capital of Cultural in 2030 is an opportunity to positively shape the future of Leuven and the region and to build a sustainable, innovative and socially equitable society.
The Dreamers want to use imagination as a connection between people, groups and sectors. They aim to be bridge-builders and sources of inspiration, to instigate collaborative working between bubbles and create unexpected connections. They want to take material steps to realize dreams. They call for boldness, innovation, and a refusal to be defined or confined by existing patterns.
Together with the region, Leuven can become an example for other cities, start a movement, and show that things can be done differently.
Timing
- July to August 2023
Nomination of candidate Dreamers - November 2023
- Announcement of the Dreamers
- Kick-off meeting
- December 2023 to April 2024
The Dreamers hold four meetings
- Autumn 2024
The Dreamers enter a new phase
Do you have a question?
Contact us. We are happy to help you.
