PROJECTS DEMONSTRATING GOOD PRACTICE IN SOCIAL INCLUSION
Social inclusion is demonstrated when all members of a community are able to participate as
active citizens in the occupations or daily activities of the community. These include work,
leisure, social, creative and/or civic occupations. The ‘community’ may be all those people
living within a particular geographical location, or be a community of members of a
particular society, association or group (e.g. an athletics association, a local choir). Projects
aiming to enable social inclusion are usually based in the community and with a learning
partnership of staff, service users and community members. The term ‘learning partnership’
is used to emphasize that every member of the community brings their own unique
contribution to the activities of the community, and that all members are engaged in an
ongoing process of learning and development.
Description of Project
It is hoped that all persons involved in the project will be involved in completing this
description.
1. Name of the project and website
Kunst in de Steigers (KIDS) - Art in the scaffolding organized by sheltered housing initiatives for mentally vulnerable people:
De Hulster vzw and Walden vzw (www.dehulster.be) in cooperation with sacred
places vzw (www.sacredplaces.be )
www.lemmert.be/kids2010 (pictures from the exhibition)
2. Description
“Art in the Scaffolding" was born in the bosom of the sheltered housing
initiatives 'De Hulster' and 'Walden' in which residents and staff wanted to
get a momentum between the worlds inside and outside psychiatry.
Art in the Scaffolding" is a social and cultural project that takes place on a
historically and architecturally significant location: Saint Jacobschurch in
Leuven. The concept is unique because it allows people to rise above
themselves and be allowed to rise in an atmosphere of collaboration,
meeting and wonder.
3. What does this project aim to achieve?
“Art in the Scaffolding” edition October 2010 was held for the fifth time.
Started from a call from the “Association of Flemish Care Institutions” and “Anders
Gewoon” ( www.andersgewoon.be ) at all the Mental Health organisations in
Flanders, an initiative was launched in March 2006 with the following principles
and aims to achieve:
• Mental health is important. Together, let us do something about it!
• Talk about it, break the stigma
• Do something for Flanders and this during the Day for World Mental Health,
every year held in mid October.
• Provide a dialogue at the local level that develops and improves the social
participation and integration of people.
• Use art and creativity to improve the encounter between the world inside and
outside psychiatry
• The process is as important as the final result
• Try to work towards a more sustainable way of cooperation.
4. What type of occupations or daily activities take place?
“Art in the Scaffolding” edition 6
Leuven: October 7 – 8 – 9,2011
Kortenberg: September 30, October 1 – 14, 2011
Installation of ‘ the think thank KIDS’ February 4, 2010 /meeting every month
Given the scale-increase of “Art in the scaffolding” with its substantive, logistical
and structural / financial implications, a more professional support carried by the
various partners, was necessary. The installation of the steering committee was held
on February 4, 2010. Each partner is represented and is fully co-thinker.
(for partners see 6 and 7)
Weekly
Clients from ‘ De Hulster and Walden vzw’ can explore their creative skills during
creative sessions held in ‘ the Kosterhouse’ 3/week. The artworks will be shown
during the exhibitions. A few months before the exhibition, workshops are held
between partners. Some examples:
Clients from sheltered living accompany teachers with their students/children in the
nursery- and primary school during their lessons ‘creativity’. The outcome from
these works are also shown during this event.
Artists from Kortenberg accompany creative workshops for patients and former
patients at the psychiatric hospital of Kortenberg. Also those works are displayed in
an exhibition, held in Kortenberg.
Activities held during ‘Art in the scaffolding’
This link will give an impression of all the activities which took place in October
2010: http://www.sacredplaces.be/site/kids2010.html
5. How did the project begin?
Since 1997, De Hulster, has been organizing an annual art exhibition for their clients
and families in the ‘Kostershouse’. Although with many enthusiasm, the whole
event took place mainly in the personal world of psychiatry and counseling.
Because the ‘Kostershouse’, a home for sheltered living for mentally vulnerable
people in Leuven, was situated next to Saint Jacobschurch', the idea was born to
use this church as the central location in which “Art in the scaffolding” should be
held.
This church, a ruin in the heart of Leuven, closed since 1963 and yet present. A place
with history, memories, painful decline, enthusiasm, neglect, with questions about
revaluation and re-integration. This church is, in all its branches, the appropriate
metaphor and place to organise “ Art in the Scaffolding”
Directly from the start in 2006, we have built an interesting collaboration with
various partners. Each is within this broad socio-cultural project, in its way a vital link
in this story of meeting, collaboration and participation. (see 6)
6. What has been a help and what has been a problem in the development of this
project?
The power and help of “Art in the scaffolding” lies in the cooperation that exists
between the various partners. A cooperation based on equal, mutual learning and
understanding.
These are all the partners:
Initiatives sheltered living for psychologically vulnerable people ‘Walden’ and ‘De
Hulster’ (www.dehulster.be)
De Hulster is associated with Psychiatric Center UPC Saint Joseph in Kortenberg.
Walden is associated with the Psychiatric Center Saint Kamillus in Bierbeek
Mater Dei kindergarten, primary and secondary school
With our closest neighbours, on the other side of the Saint-Jacobs square, we had in
previous years a fine collaboration. Together with our clients from sheltered living,
teachers and students did some workshops together. The outcome is shown during
the exhibition. Thanks to those experience, some of our clients could work as a
volunteer in school.
(example: in Mater Dei was a reading group for children with reading difficulties in
which our residents participated as ‘read-parents’)
NGO ‘Stad en Architectuur ’ and ‘Vrienden van St Jacobskerk’'
Both NGO’s focus on the preservation of this church, explore opportunities for
renovation in collaboration with KULeuven, think about repurposing of this church.
"Art in the scaffolding" is a platform for more public and political attention on this
church.
UPC KULeuven, campus Kortenberg (www.uc-kortenberg.be )
Many of our residents spend much of their time in the day activity center SaintMaarten within psychiatric hospital Saint-Josef in Kortenberg “Art in the scaffolding”
is a challenge for intra-mural health-care to contribute in a creative way to destigmatisation. (See also 14.)
City Counsel/Culture Kortenberg
Thanks to “"Art in the scaffolding’ the town KORTENBERG cooperates with the local
psychiatric clinic. By advertising in the city, local artist gave workshops inside the
hospital and an exhibition was held in the town-hall.
The ‘outside world’ meets the psychologically vulnerable people
Sacred Places vzw (www.sacredplaces.be)
Is an arts organization that deals with conceptualising and developing
multidisciplinary projects. They have a reputation for original and special initiatives,
interesting cross-overs, multicultural combinations, original locations and innovative
concepts. Disciplines are combined to give overall performances with an interaction
between professionals and amateurs.
City Counsel of Leuven
The city counsel gave the exceptional permission to ‘ De Hulster’ and ‘sacred places’
to organise ‘ Art in the Scaffolding’ in this desolate church.
A future problem might be the financial aspect.
Organizing such an event is expensive. Every year we contact various funding
channels in order to pay the necessary logistics. This remains an unpredictable
factor.
7. Why is this project working well?
The power of “Art in the scaffolding” lies in the cooperation that exists between the
various partners. A cooperation based on equal, mutual learning and understanding.
and
the Saint-Jacobschurch itself. A church which has been closed for more then 40
years attracts many onlookers.
Each year approximately 4000 people visit this exhibition.
Through this exhibition, they come into positive contact with vulnerable others
which can lead to de-stigmatisation.
8. How do you decide if this project is working well and what needs changing?
All partners are involved in a review meeting. Besides verbal consultations during
this meeting, everyone receives a written report.
Preparatory meeting for “Art in the scaffolding 2011" is scheduled for February 16,
2011.
9. How are decisions made in this project?
Decisions are made in a dynamic and interactive manner. Partners responds to
proposals from others and vice versa.
'Art in the scaffolding' is never finished and is always an impetus for change and
development of new initiatives.
10. How much does it cost to run this project?
How many staff is needed?
Our clients make their works within the existing facilities:
-creative sessions within the sheltered living organisation and this 3 times per week,
-art schools in the city,
-during their free time at home.
Also the children and students from Mater Dei school are making their creative
group-work during the regular school hours.
Only during the weekend of 'Art in the scaffolding' additional staffing is required by
counsellors, teachers, clients to make everything run smoothly
Logistical support
The challenge to transform an old church ruin in a beautiful artistic lit area costs a
lot of work and money. For this reason we engaged Sacred Places vzw.
Financial aspect:
"Art in the scaffolding 'edition 2010 cost € 22,000.
The entire budget was obtained through sponsorship.
11. Who is needed to work in this project?
An initiative such as' Art in the scaffolding "can only succeed if a group of motivated
people from various organizations of society can come together and believe in the
value of such a project
12. Will this project keep going in the future?
'Art in the scaffolding' has become an annual event. Whether, in future, this project
will continue to take place depends on following factors:


City Councils’ approval to continue using this old church
Financial feasibility of such an initiative. In recent years, we could count on
several grants at the local, municipal and provincial level. Untill now, there is
no continued funding.
13. Could this project work in different conditions?
The 'key concept' is a willingness for cooperation between various partners and a
willingness to learn from each other
14. How would you describe the particular things that occupational therapist have
added to this project?
Every Tuesday in june and September we have an “open workshop” with supervision
of artists, Occupational therapists and art therapists in the mental health hospital
UPC KULeuven campus Kortenberg.
All OT-workplaces are in use to work on this project together with art-interested
inhabitants of the village Kortenberg.
15. What do you think are the particular strengths and weaknesses of the project?
Strength
The power of “Art in the scaffolding” lies in the cooperation that exists between the
various partners. A cooperation based on equal, mutual learning and understanding.
Weakness
'Art in the scaffolding' has become an annual event. Whether, in future, this project
will continue to take place depends on following factors:
City Councils’ approval to continue using this old church
Financial feasibility of such an initiative. In recent years, we could count on several
grants at the local, municipal and provincial level. Untill now, there is no continued
funding.
16. Contact person
Vermeulen Bart
Sociaal Verpleegkundige
VZW De Hulster
Minderbroedersstraat 23
3000 Leuven
016/29.87.60
bart.vermeulen@dehulster.be