Workplaces
Workplaces are organisational structures that support individually operating artists in the development and support of their work.
Workplaces offer infrastructure, equipment and/or materials in which and with which artists can concretely go to work. Some provide specialised space and equipment with which to work, usually with supervision. The artist receives feedback and production support in developing work, and sometimes also organisational or artistic advice. The emphasis is on the artistic process and the production process. The stay does not necessarily have to lead to an elaborate public presentation. Sometimes workplaces are ‘artist run’.
Jester, the Frans Masereel Centrum, Overtoon, Werktank orGluon are examples of organisations that offer a workplace for visual artists.
For performing artists there are, among others, De Pianofabriek, wpZimmer and BUDA that have their own infrastructure, and players such as Workspacebrussels and detheatermaker that use the infrastructure of other organisations.
In music, workplaces such as B-Classic, Q-O2 (sound art) and Walter (focus on experimental jazz) provide space for artistic musical experiments.
For designers, there are some twenty FabLabs in Flanders, where professionals – but also students, start-ups or other private individuals – can get started with high-tech equipment. These FabLabs are often connected to an educational institution. They usually do not offer substantive support or career guidance.
The advantage of workplaces is that they often can provide the greatest level of customisation adapted to the artist. However, they are usually smaller structures with a limited budget.
