Social commitment

Direct involvement of public and staff

At La Tricoterie, we are convinced that social sustainability relies on the active involvement of all stakeholders in the cultural and non-profit sectors. This applies to artists and cultural venues, of course, but also to the staff working in these spaces and, naturally, to the public. That is why we have introduced several initiatives to increase the involvement of both our audience and our employees.

Our public plays an active role in our project through our cooperative : anyone who wishes to do so can become a member of our cooperative Théodore, which owns our buildings and manages our event and hospitality divisions. This structure strengthens the bond between the public and the cultural venue : spectators are not only active participants during artists performances ; they become true builders of the project.

To further reinforce this public commitment, we now invite our cooperative members to take part in designing a portion of our season. Our goal here is to bring artists and associations together to create synergies and a collective momentum, while maintaining a common thread and shared values that allow us to offer the public a unique, cohesive programming enriched by diverse energies.

It is equally important for us to foster strong connections within our internal organization. For this reason, our employees are also taking on an increasingly active role in managing our project. Beyond regular team-building activities, we have set up collective intelligence sessions, which mark the first step toward greater team involvement in our decision-making process.

The Short-Circuit Artistic Approach

Our commitment to a socially sustainable society also includes the relocation of culture. La Tricoterie is located in Saint-Gilles, a municipality teeming with associations and artists who lack visibility, yet have a tremendous amount to share. We therefore prioritize these local artists and partners by highlighting their creations and giving them a space to express themselves.

In doing so, we move away from the model of the international artist whose performance people attend in a massive venue before heading straight back home. Instead, we showcase local artists who perform in human-scaled spaces and build a genuine connection with the audience.

Through this, we align ourselves with the vision of the Sophia Plan, developed by the Kaya Coalition, which proposes creating local cultural nodes aimed at a nearby audience. These actions lead the way toward creating short- circuit cultural events that cultivate local cultural biodiversity.

The role of spectator-actor

Since the creation of the La Tricoterie, its founders wanted to move away from the model that wants the audience merely "consume" culture. On the contrary, we see the spectator as an actor who participates in a collective experience.

This role of spectator-actor, or spectator-actress, has been particularly developed during performances that break down the "4th wall" by addressing the audience directly.

This role is also enhanced by the moments of discussion (or "third halves") that follow the performances, during which the spectators can share their impressions and interact with the artists, as well as through debates and exhibitions that extend beyond the stage performance. Active listening and sharing are the cornerstones of our programming.

Integration into Neighborhood Life

Our social cohesion mission naturally depends on our active presence within our neighborhood. The lower part of the Saint-Gilles municipality (between the Barrière de Saint-Gilles and the Midi Train Station) is a particularly dense urban area rich in cultural diversity.
We want all local residents to be able to make these spaces their own, take ownership of them, and find their place as engaged citizens. This is why we regularly participate in numerous events (such as the Bethléem festival, the #CapCultuur event, and other neighborhood block parties and workshops) or establish partnerships with various local associations.

This involvement in neighborhood life is made possible through our participation in several local working groups :

Group created by the ASBL Ensemble pour 1060, which brings together numerous associations in Saint-Gilles and organises social cohesion activities
Culture group of the “Coordination de l’action sociale” ofe Saint-Gilles, supported by the CPAS Culture Unit, which organises cultural mediation activities
Monitoring meetings of the Municipal Plan for Cultural Policy carried out by the Culture Department of the Commune

It is also within this framework that La Tricoterie was involved in the Bosnia neighbourhood contract in 2014 and 2015, with the organisation of numerous activities such as improvisation workshops or citizen TV courses for women, young people and teenagers from the neighbourhood.

We want to continue this effort so that the Knitting Factory is as inclusive and diverse as possible. In this context, our ambition is to revitalise our collaboration with the neighbourhood associations and to increase the use of our spaces by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood.

A programme focused on social cohesion

Each year, our sociocultural season features numerous events and activities centered on social cohesion. Through these programming choices, our goal is to constantly create spaces for exchange and interaction among the various communities and associations that make up the social fabric of Brussels, and Saint-Gilles in particular.

These include, notably :

Our neighbourhood “potlucks”, during which local residents are invited to share dish selections they have prepared with one another, as well as our "Auberge de ma grand-mère" (My Grandmother’s Potluck), which adapts this activity with an intergenerational focus.
The "Resto des Tricoteurs et Tricoteuses" and its large meeting table, which aims to combat isolation and allow everyone to remain curious and to widen their circle of acquaintances
The "Sephardic couscous", at the confluence of Arab and Jewish culinary (and musical) traditions, as well as the Mussels-French fries (bringing together Dutch and French speakers)
Our theatrical creations "Les liaisons joyeuses", in partnership with Théâtre et Réconciliation, which address the theme of living together by bringing together on stage artists, people from the neighbourhood, people with disabilities or dependencies, newcomers, and many other disadvantaged people or people from invisible backgrounds
Our Monday night open stage, which allows Brussels artists to meet on stage and share their creations with a diverse audience
The Children’s Ball, a free event intended primarily for local neighborhood children.

We take great care to offer these activities at the most affordable rates possible : as a result, our concerts, film-debate evenings, children’s activities, conferences, and board game nights are accessible at 3,4, or 5 €. Other activities, such as La Java, the open mic, neighborhood potlucks, and the Children’s Party, are entirely free. We also accept Article 27 vouchers for our cultural dissemination activities.

Beyond these specific activities, our programming is strategically designed so that our audience, during their visit, can "accidentally" discover other activities and take an interest in what other visitors are doing. This strategic choice enables us to foster a different way of occupying the "cultural center" space : it is no longer just a transit area between two performances, but a true place of discovery and exchange among diverse audiences.

Direct involvement of public and staff

The Short-Circuit Artistic Approach

The role of spectator-actor

Integration into Neighborhood Life

A programme focused on social cohesion

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