The winners of the competition “I love you Brussels” received their respective awards yesterday evening (Monday). This took place during a ceremony organised in the Maison de la Francité (which promotes the French language and related culture in all its forms) in Brussels. The Minister-President of the French-speaking government in Brussels with responsibility for Culture, Fadila Laanan, was present.
Fifteen individuals “whose hearts belong to Brussels” were rewarded for their creations produced within five different media. These were namely plastic arts, writing, video, song and photography.
The public and the jury made their choice from more than 125 pre-selected works by some 800 participants.
These individuals had "told their story of their individual relationships with Brussels, with its folklore, its culture, its districts, its inhabitants, its parks, its terraces, its restaurants and, of course, (how could we forget?!) its gastronomy.”
Fadila Laanan, the brains behind the competition, considered during the awards ceremony that the Brussels terrorist attacks of March 22nd had given a new dimension to the competition.
She particularly stated, “Obviously, these very sad events have influenced the prejudices and melange of concepts within all genres. Yet, the lack of knowledge of given cultures engenders a sense of fear, the Ghetto-identity and the sometimes violent rejection of identity. These now reverberates considerably across life in all Brussels districts. More than ever, I am convinced that we need to spread this message of love in relation to our region and its inhabitants. The talents are there to develop these facets!”
Moreover she went on, “There is no shortage of exciting projects. There are artistic projects, which of course we cannot place a value on, but also projects relating to citizens, popular education and creativity. These are all projects filled with joy and solidarity.”
Projects scooping awards were, amongst others aspects, devoted to the Mont des Arts, cultural diversity, the Atomium, but also the day following the March 22nd attacks.
An exhibition has been created to combine the most beautiful “declarations of love” in Brussels, which is available to see until January 16th, at the Maison de la Francité. The budget for the initiative is just shy of 25,000 euros.
The Brussels Times
