If you are a trailblazer and social innovator, someone that believes in the power of grassroots movements and bottom up approaches, who likes to work collaboratively and interdisciplinary, or simply a resident of Brussels who wants to transform your city into a better place, this is your event!

Does Brussels need to reduce pollution by encouraging more cycling, pedestrianising larger areas and creating low-traffic zones?

Should we focus on illegal dumping? Or is it more important to make train and metro stations greener and more welcoming?

Do you think our public spaces, gothic squares, Art Nouveau buildings and EU administration offices should have a more human and community-centred feel?

If you’ve got opinions on topics like these, and would like to work with others from all kinds of backgrounds on solving them, then this is your event!

In the kick-off event for Built with Bits, take part in a dynamic citizen lab and bring your ideas to transform real spaces in Brussels based on the New European Bauhaus values of inclusivity, sustainability and togetherness.

All ages, all generations, all experiences are welcome. Whether you’re a trailblazer or social innovator who wants to make a difference, or you’re a Brussels resident who wants to transform the city into a better place, come along and see what we can do together!

We’ll use innovative and immersive technologies (no experience necessary!) and digital cultural heritage collections (think artworks, videos, audio, texts) to develop ideas to improve real spaces in Brussels. The best ideas will form part of a mentoring programme for students of LUCA and KU Leuven - and you!

For this project, we’ll be using open source material - and we’ll talk you through what that means and how to use and understand licensing for open-source repositories like Europeana. Ultimately, you’ll publish your work through public media.

The best team project will be awarded in Dec 2022 at a final ceremony and considered for submission to a relevant call of the NEB initiative.

👀 See the outline of the complete programme.

Why to participate

You can either take part in this three-hour workshop or the complete programme from kick-off to the award ceremony! No need to decide now, you can do it at the end of the workshop. If you opt to follow the full programme, you will:

✅ Create a proper framework to start investigating how to solve a real urban issue or concern for the city.

✅ Gain a collaborative experience, meeting and working with other people, aligned with the New European Bauhaus movement and values.

✅ Learn new methodologies, tools and mindsets you can use to face future challenges.

✅ Upskill and reskill on digital technologies, collaboration, citizenship, problem solving, design thinking, cultural awareness and creativity.

✅ Work with educators, students and experts on design, arts and culture, throughout your entire project.

✅ Turn your idea into a virtual immersive space and share it worldwide.

You don’t need to have a fully formed idea right now (but if you already have one, tell us more!). No technical skills or equipment are required either. Just bring your positive energy and belief in the power of collaborative work and community ideas.

⌛ Agenda kick off event

14.00 - 14.05. Welcome

14.05 - 14.15. What is Built with Bits? Introduce the programme and Europeana cultural heritage.

14.15 - 14.30. Ice-breaker. Get to know each other and split into groups based on shared interests

14.30 - 15.30. Talk it out! How do you imagine the Brussels of the future? The groups will work on identifying what is changing in the city and how to face specific challenges - and come up with lots of ideas!

15.30 - 15.50. Pitch your ideas! Each group will briefly share their ideas.

15.50 - 16.00. Wrap-up and next steps.

16.00 - 17.00. Your time - socialise and network with all of the day’s participants!

🤝 This programme is made possible by the Europeana Foundation and in collaboration with Macedonia Studio, the House of European History, LUCA SChool of Arts and the European Schools.

📝 We keep your personal information confidential: The Europeana Foundation and Macedonia will collect the data provided by you when registering for the event. It is for use by the organisers only to support your participation at the event. If you want your data to be removed, send an email to hola@somosmacedonia.com and we will delete your information from our databases. You can find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy.