The Bridge

At winter 2007-2008 we have completed the BreXpat project with the help of Kind Baudouin foundation in Brussels. Our primary objective was helping to achieve better mutual understanding between expats in local in Brussels using joint cultural projects as a communication tool.
We launched the project at December 2007, simultaneously with opening of the art exhibition “Emotion in motion”, where Flemish, French and expat artists participated side by side. This was significant event for existing climate of the time, as we managed to unite the three contradicting social groups in Belgium exactly when the social division has reached its pick. It was set right during the crisis which threatened to increase the gap in Belgium society. Our event had unmistakable spirit of unity and mutual understanding. Three different languages were spoken as if it was one as Flemish, Francophone and expat artists joined efforts in Gallery Gabrichidze. Our partner hepatica communication plaid a significant part in the project, ensuring the timely promotion of event and multicultural audience by enabling own web enabled platform for all BreXpat related communication.
Our Gallery is located close to St Catherine and Pl St Gerry which is popular location among natives. During a due course of expat the crowds from bars, cafes and other establishments in our neighborhood joined us this allowing us to easily reach both locals and expats, and ensuring that every group of Brussels: autocrat expats from corporate and European elite, third world labor migrants, French speaking locals, Flemish speaking locals and even tourist building bridges at our venue, just as BreXpat was intended to do…

This project has allowed us to make one more significant step to create a joint space for everyone and eventually assist the integration process. As we stated in our previous publications even though discussions about migration are conducted at very high level the small local actions are sometimes vital. Gallery Gabrichidze is proud that the projects which we have completed in a framework of Brexpat are helping to change personal attitudes which would later become a foundation for a better understanding in society.

The most important thing we have learnt from the project was that joint creative participation in workshops; open mics, exhibitions or discussions aren’t only putting locals and expats together but also helping local folks to get closer to each other, this allowing significant contribution to the host country. It is obvious that Brussels is one of the most favorite destinations for expats in Europe. Often it seems that language barriers and cultural differences which expats bring with them might even add more division to already diversified community. However “Bridge” the project run by Gallery Gabrichidze in a framework of Brexpat can be a successful tool against exclusion and isolation and is a strong integration force putting small but significant cornerstone into the foundation of more tolerant and openhearted Brussels.

“We are not only making step to understand locals better, your exehibitions and presentations are also helping Belgians to understand themselves better and to rediscover their own country” says Charlene Clemson , the participant of “Emotion in motion”.
“Sometimes one needs to put own identity on test through alien eyes to rediscover own true value “ adds the immigration layer, Brussels native Roger Luyckx, in past winter-associate of Lexial law firm, who also became a partner of our gallery. “Sometimes expats help us, locals to understand each other better here in Brussels”

Gallery Gabrichidze hosted many successful projects during the first stage of BreXpat-we had run an art exhibition where local talents from Charleroi, Antwerp and Brussels had an opportunity to exhibit together with artists from London, Paris and New York city, we have launched entertaining game nights we had few poetry nights during our Open mike sessions where Dutch, English and French were spoken at the same time. But the “next step” creative workshops were indeed most successful: every Saturday we were allowing expats and locals to come along and to share their ideas about using creativity to help people get together. We were setting best concepts in our venue. This “melting pot” of ideas let us to many interesting projects which were not even planned in our original BreXpat program

We have put on track many interesting idea which are now in the gallery agenda: the poetry evenings by Flemish poet Philip Meersman who is using natural sounds instead of words, game nights with French expat artist Francois Bihorel who creates a specially shaped artwork for his own invented games. With one of our, partners, the bar called “Talmo” we began to prepare the simultaneous chess tournament... These are only a few examples of creative events which were achieved with a help of BreXpat-The Bridge

Details and conclusion:

• The project achievements:
There art exhibitions feauturing both international artists and locals
Workshops and debate about immigration, integration, human rights, EU, free trade and culture
Game nights
Poetry evening
“Next step” workshops
Community meetings where local entrepreneurs, youth from the neighborhood and expats could meet and discuss different issues.
• Who has benefited from these achievements?
Expats and both local communities, neighborhood, emerging artists, people with cultural interest.
• Have you been confronted with difficulties? If yes, how have you tackled them?
Low attendance at poetry nights and game nights. We tackled them by making this events external and running them at the cafes and bars
• How do the achievements improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries?
The creative people both among expats and locals; the community in general as our projects increased mutual understanding in the times of crisis.
• What has been the reaction of the target public to the project? If necessary indicate what they have said.
Our actions were regularly covered by FM Brussels radio and also by newspapers in other countries. On a more local note many youth from the neighborhood received cultural touch and became locals in our gallery thanks to the Bridge-BreXpat

Timetable:
We have started the project at Dec. 1, 2007 simultaneously with the opening of “Emotion in motion” exhibition.
During the project we have also organized two other exhibitions: “Majical Mistery exhibition” and “Urban solitude”
Please click on “exhibitions page of our website to find out more
Opening of all three was followed by the workshop and debate about immigration, integration and race and ethnic relations in 21 century, and also about EU, human rights, and role of culture in integrating people
More information is available at our website
Starting Dec 2007, every Saturday of the month we have been organizing “The Next step” creative workshops.
We have organized a game nights in December 2007 and “Art on the street project” allowing passers by on the street participate in creation of the artwork together with artists Tome de Boeck
This part of project was transmitted life by BrusselFM radio station, who was frequently interviewing us during the Brexpat.
The publications about the Bridge, our project in a framework of Brexpat appeared also in Poland, Japan, Ukraine,

At April 2008 the Bridge, project which we have run in a framework of Brexpat was complete and we began preparing for BreXpat two- the next level of BreXpat

Budget:
The funds from KBF were used for utility, promotion, organization and travel expenses of the project according to the budget scheme which was submitted in our project application. The detailed specification is available in a form of purchase journal upon request

More information about the development of the project is here:
gallery-gabrichidze.com/events.html

The best quotation: "Our aim is to unite the Flemish, Walloon and expat communities under one roof using creativity as a tool," said gallery co-founder Olena Omelchenko. "Thanks to the funding, we are now able to focus on executing our projects without worrying about making profits to cover the losses."
Omelchenko believes that, if Brussels wants to keep its role as the capital of EU political and social life, then expats and locals should live together in more harmony and integration. She says such harmony could then be used as a blueprint for the rest of the country.
"If Belgium wants to keep itself together, then the Walloons and the Flemish should also find a way to cope with each other," she said. "It is important to bring people together and struggle against negative factors which divide them."
Deutche Welle Jan 13, 2008