00 WHAT
Social and informal economy
Brussels is characterized by uneven economic dynamics. Brussels is the second wealthiest European region in terms of GDP per capita – just after inner-London. At the same time Brussels has an enormous problem of unemployment. Today Brussels has the second highest rate of unemployment in comparison to all European capitals (after Berlin). In October 2005 Brussels counted 90000 unemployed, among whom 63369 were eligible for government support (approximately 23% of the total population of the city).
The Brussels research project called micronomics (a) aims to analyse how one can detect leverage points to renegotiate this anomaly; (b) how urban interventions can become catalysts for social economic development (c) how urban intervention can contribute to a sustainable social economy.

Baudouin Massart followed the work in Brussels. Baudouin Massart is journalist and
researcher at Agence Alter, a non-profit organisation, based in Brussels and Wallonia (Belgium). Agence Alter edits five publications and provides study and consulting on social topics like : employment, urban regeneration, housing, social economy, youth, sustainable development, etc. He has a special interest in the networks (local to international) which allow people, associations and others to exchange practices and ideas. He also writes short black novels about life in the cities. Recently, he wrote a book on Belfast, with interviews of community workers and artists who work in the context of the peace process.

For the workshops, a broad core platform has been brought toger, consisting of people with most diverse backgrouds:

Darinka Czischke (Cecodhas - European Social Housing Observatory)- moderator
Aude Garelly (Agence Alter)
Mark Dhondt (De Overmolen Groep - Rainbow Economy project)
Jan Pille (Rainbow Economy project)
Bjorn Maes (Rainbow Economy project)
Houda Benani (FVB/FBB – umbrella organisation for social training programmes in the construction sector / starting up a cooperative of woman in the construction sector)
Erdmuthe Klaer (REVES - Réseau Européen des Villes & Régions de l’Economie Sociale) Ludo Hennebel (ULB – docteur en droit, chargé de recherche)
Niko Bruggemans & Jan Boels (Heartwork.be – gaphic designers)
Christophe Pham (V+ - bureau vers plus de bien-être – architect)
Sybille Derycke (Designed in Brussels – Designer)
Cécile Michel – Nicholas Clément – Isabelle Det (Blow-Up – photographers)
Jérôme (Microboutique – mobile bookdepot/bookshop – drawer)
Edgar Szoc (Agence Alter – Radio Panik)

Four workshops took place between March and May 2006.

The purpose of the micronomics workshop is [1] to have a debate on the city, starting from the idea of its dualities (paradoxes between intra & extra local realities) which are striking for economical issues, [2] to imagine interventions that can make the link between both realities:

» trying to create a physical experimental zone in the city
» where major obstacles for potential micronomical initiatives such as heavy administration, rigid jurisdiction or opaque regulations are by-passed in a creative way
» where overlapping agenda points of different (power)groups in the city can join
[3] to see whether the case study of creating an experimental market is a good case in thiscontext?


01NEWS

Workshops reports


* to be kept posted on the latest news on MICRONOMICS projects,
subscribe to the discussion platform on http://lists.collectifs.net/micronomics
or you can also check out h ttp://www.citymined.org


 

 

 


02 AGENDA
:: WORKSHOPS (MARCH-MAY 2006)
:: MICRONOMICS :: workshops
» The purpose of the micronomics workshop is
have a debate on the city, starting from the idea of its dualities (paradoxes between intra & extra local realities) which are striking for economical issues can we imagine interventions that can make the link between both realities:
trying to create a physical experimental zone in the city where major obstacles for potential micronomical initiatives such as heavy administration, rigid jurisdiction or opaque regulations are by-passed in a creative way where overlapping agenda points of different (power)groups in the city can join is the case study of creating an experimental market a good case in this context?
» Starting point
One of the first people we talked about GE and Brussels economical realities is Mark Dhondt of De Overmolen. He is working on a project called Rainbow Economy which developes new methodologies to improve integration of asylum seakers on the labour market. As a part of the project, they wanted to organise a market that can be a grey zone, taking away any legal obstructions to try out small scale entreprises
(this text is based on oral transmission – mark can contradict this any time)

We thought both the Rainbow Economy and the City Mine(d) Micronomics project could benefit of a collaboration: [a] the years of experience of the Rainbow Economy project + a lobby ‘empowerment’ group - [b] the GE methodology + widening the projects perspective by linking a broader coalition of people to the developement and positioning of the market as an experimental zone in the city.

» Cahier des charges / Rules of engagement / Lastenboek

Definitions
As we are talking about complex matters with a lot of technical terminology – so we want to create our own workshop language. Some propositions of crucial definitions are:
MICRONOMICS
experimental, small scale or innovative economical practices that can make the bridge between intra & extra local realities
BOUNDARY MARKET
a concrete experimental zone for economical practices – a place where the debate can land into the physical space – programmed with real feasable micronomic projects
ECONOMY
thousands of definitions of social / informal / formal economy are circuling. We have to decide on one before we get started. We want to do the exercice not to focus on one speciphic economical aspect of these 3. Ideally, we find links between them.

Overall Focus:
be able to present the workshop results for public
develop tools to organise a real boundary market (july – in the passage way of the Palais du Midi)
how to create a juridical umbrella?
how can we organise admissions?
how to make this market attractive to the public: healthy mix of products & activities
how to avoid unfair competition?
what about marketing/labels/image/design/logo?

:: Meet& Greet

:: program drinks & eats: taken care of by participants of the Rainbow economy project

-:: when 15 march

:: venue guaGua barn at PlanB – visit to Passage du Palais du Midi – De Overmolen

REPORT by our critical reporter Baudouin Massart

:: Workshop # 1

-:: when 22 march

:: program starting from the generalized empowerment methodology, have a discussion on the MICRONOMICS mission.
Drinks & eats: taken care of by participants of the Rainbow economy project

-:: when 22 march

:: venue Cecodhas headquarters - 59b Rue Guillaume Tell - 1060 Bxl

REPORT by our critical reporter Baudouin Massart

:: workshop # 2

-:: when 6 april

:: program Presentation of expieriences:
Houda Bennani: woman in contruction sector - cooperatives ...
Mark Dhondt: since 2 years selling sportswear on the Bockstael & Abatoir market
2 distinct groups will brainstorm on 2 disctinct aspects
Boundary market positioning (leaflets – looks & logo’s)
Micronomics practices (objectives, actors, needs)
Feed back
Drinks & eats: taken care of by participants of the Rainbow economy project

:: venue Agence Alter headquartes – 64 rue Coenraedts – 1060 Bxl

:: what workshop # 3

-:: when 13 april

:: program 2 distinct groups will brainstorm on 2 disctinct aspects
Boundary market
Micronomics
Feed back
Drinks & eats: taken care of by participants of the Rainbow economy project

:: venue City mine(d) headquarters – 43 rue des Chartreux – 1000 Bx








03 RESOURCES
:: Ge- research project »
Critical reporter is: Baudouin Massart _ journalist for Alter-Echos and independent researcher in social economy


Baudouin Massart is journalist and researcher at Agence Alter, a non-profit organisation, based in Brussels and Wallonia (Belgium). Agence Alter edits five publications and provides study and consulting on social topics like : employment, urban regeneration, housing, social economy, youth, sustainable development, etc. He has a special interest in the networks (local to international) which allow people, associations and others to exchange practices and ideas. He also writes short black novels about life in the cities. Recently, he wrote a book on Belfast, with interviews of community workers and artists who work in the context of the peace process.

Paradoxes Brussels
1. For each person potentially belonging to the working population of the Brussels Region, there is 1,57 full time job available on the labour market.
-
Brussels has an unemployment rate in its labour force of 21,3% - the second higest rate in a European capital (after Berlin).

2. a sample of senior managers working in one of 1500 of Europe's biggest companies have chosen the Brussels Region as the 4th favourite city to do business in
-
Over 25% of Brussels based people live in a household postponing health care expenditures because of financial reasons

3. Brussels is the second richest region in Europe in terms of GDP per capita
-
Of every in the Brussels Region produced Euro, only 0,29 Euro remains as available income for Brussels based persons. (lowest ratio in all of the European regions)

sources:
orbem _ NIS/INS, European Cities Monitor 2005, Eurostat, BLBE, Johan Moyersoen, ...







:: PUBLICATIONS

:: reports (download)
22.03.2006 GE Brussels Workshop (by Baudouin Massart)
15.03.2006 GE Brussels Workshop (by Baudouin Massart)
06.04.2006 GE Brussels Workshop (by Baudouin Massart)
13.04.2006 GE Brussels Workshop (by Baudouin Massart)

:: final position paper (download)
La microéconomie à la conquête de l'espace public (by Baudouin Massart)
















:: ARCHIVE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 

 

 
04 PARTENERSHIP


:: Darinka Czischke (Cecodhas - European Social Housing Observatory) moderateur
Darinka Czischke is a sociologist and an urbanist. She is currently Research Director of the European Social Housing Observatory at CECODHAS (the European network of social housing providers) based in Brussels. Prior to coming to Belgium, Darinka co-ordinated a study on high-density living in London (UK), and worked at the Greater London Authority on the development of urban sustainability indicators. Darinka’s broad interest lies in understanding the links between space and society, on which she has gained experience by working on policy-oriented research on urban, environmental and social issues in South America and Europe. Darinka has also a passion for photography and is currently preparing the collective exhibition “differential visions” to take place in Brussels at the end of April 2006.

:: Baudouin Massart (Agence Alter) reporter
Baudouin Massart is journalist and researcher at Agence Alter, a non-profit organisation, based in Brussels and Wallonia (Belgium). Agence Alter edits five publications and provides study and consulting on social topics like : employment, urban regeneration, housing, social economy, youth, sustainable development, etc. He has a special interest in the networks (local to international) which allow people, associations and others to exchange practices and ideas. He also writes short black novels about life in the cities. Recently, he wrote a book on Belfast, with interviews of community workers and artists who work in the context of the peace process.

:: Aude Garelly (Agence Alter)
Aude Garelly works at Agence Alter, a non-profit organisation, based in
Brussels and Wallonia (Belgium). Agence Alter produces five publications
and realizes researchs on social topics like : employment, urban
regeneration, housing, social economy, teaching, youth, sustainable
development, etc. She is in charge of the research department. She has a
special interest in the field of the "grey economy", the urban policies.
She tries to impulse and support projects which get out of the
straitjacketconfines of traditional economy and public policies.
She has a special interest in this network because of the topics, and
also because the group applies itselve to experiment the concept of
generalized empowerment even in it's way of working.

:: Mark Dhondt (De Overmolen Groep - Rainbow Economy project)

:: Jan Pille (Rainbow Economy project)
Jan Pille is at present working for Sven Gatz, member of the Flemish parliament and as such advises him on various topics such as migration, city management & education.  Through his academic background (social studies & philosophy) and previous working experiences (Jes vzw, a youth organisation & De Beursschouwburg, an artistic centre) he remains involved in projects and networks who are seeking to experiment with public spaces.
A global journey (Asia, South America) gave the inspiration to start up a social economic market in Brussels.  In the summer of 2005 a trip to the Philippines was undertaken to get an insight into microfinance systems and the possibility of transposing them from the ‘3rd’ to the ‘1st’ world.
 
P.S : I also like fishing

:: Bjorn Maes (Rainbow Economy project)
Bjorn Maes currently works for the arts center De Beursschouwburg and is responsible for programming chiefly socio-artistic projects. Last year he established the thematic festival market of the music festival Klinkende Munt. It developed itself as an innovative market mixing art with economics, offering a platform for unusual artisan products, exotic recipes, unruly textile designers, artists inspired by recycled trash, crazy inventions, cultural alternators, less evident literature, in short produce that triggers the imagination. He also represents De Beursschouwburg as a partner in the ESF Equal-project on Rainboweconomy with De Overmolen. For WorldAidsDay he curated "CinéMaison: Life is a Beautiful Thing", a refreshing programme of positive, provocative, humorous and brave shortfilms - just because he cares.
Bjorn also spent a good few years overseas in Ireland and Zimbabwe where he operated as a theatre director in residence and was English editor for the trade magazine Africa Film & TV. He enjoys life and its music and is all too chuffed that spring's around the corner.

:: Houda Bennani (FVB/FBB)
Je m’appelle Houda, j’ai 33 ans. Je suis architecte de jardin de formation, mais je n’y travaille plus (j’adore toujours autant les plantes, mais j’ai été démotivée par le secteur…). Je me suis convertie dans le secteur bâtiment depuis 2004, après avoir suivi une formation en rénovation légère (plâtrage, peinture, menuiserie….) et finitions décoratives.  Je suis surtout peintre. Je fais des chantiers de rénovation avec des femmes carreleuses, plafonneuses, menuisières…
MAIS on ne trouve pas d’emploi salarié parce que les entrepreneurs sont convaincus que le bâtiment, c’est une histoire de biceps ….masculins. Une longue liste d’arguments négatifs (mais facile à contrecarrer !...) est utilisée pour justifier leur opposition à l’embauche des femmes.
Nous avons décidé finalement de nous créer notre propre emploi et étudions la possibilité d’ouvrir une coopérative rénovation – peinture, système économie sociale..…C’est un peu compliqué, néanmoins faisable…
En stand-by….…parce que...
Actuellement, j’ai l’énorme chance de pouvoir travailler (un an) sur un projet d’insertion de femmes dans les métiers de la construction, via jobcoaching, pour la Wallonie. J’incarne le lien terrain entre le groupe de travail étudiant le projet, les entrepreneurs potentiellement employeurs et les femmes à insérer sur le marché de l’emploi.
Le fait que j’aie choisi deux métiers dits masculins (jardins et bâtiment) me rend plus concernée par le sujet……. Je suis stimulée par tout ce qui reste à faire pour permettre à une femme d’exercer, en toute simplicité, le métier non traditionnellement féminin de son choix et de s’y épanouir……. On n’y est pas encore (la simplicité !)…. Le temps ne compte (presque) pas … Faire évoluer les mentalités lentement mais sûrement sera plus utile à l’insertion socioprofessionnelle des femmes.
Le projet personnel de coopérative est donc directement alimenté par les réflexions et synthèses nécessaires à l’évolution du projet wallon pour lequel je travaille cette année 2006.
Ce n’est pas toujours évident…. Je m’accroche surtout…….
A suivre……

:: Erdmuthe Klaer (REVES - Réseau Européen des Villes & Régions de l’Economie Sociale)

:: Ludo Hennebel (ULB – docteur en droit, chargé de recherche)

:: Niko Bruggemans& Jan Boels (Heartwork.be)

:: ChristophePham (V+ - bureau vers plus de bien être)
Christophe Pham : architecte stagiaire au bureau d'architectures V+(Bureau vers plus de bien-être), qui devrait travailler sur la scénographie du « Boundary market ».

:: Sybille Derycke (Designed in Brussels)

::Cécile Michel – Nicholas Clément – Isabelle Detournay (Blow-Up)
Cécile Michel (née à Virton en 1976), membre du collectif de photographes BlowUp depuis 2002, a fait ses études à St-Luc à Liège et vit et travaille aujourd’hui à Bruxelles.
«  Ma photographie s’articule à travers mes expériences de vie. Elle révèle l’environnement dans lequel je voyage, j’explore, j’expérimente et rencontre l’autre… Tout un ensemble qu’il me plaît d’entrecroiser pour construire un paysage ou animer un « théâtre d’images ».
Une approche qui se veut documentaire, qui exprime tout à la fois une relation entretenue avec le monde et une expérience singulière. »
A effectué différentes expo’s, réalisé des DVD’s, animé des ateliers d’éducation, etc.

Nicholas Clément

Isabelle Detournay was born in 1974. Once she completed her studies to become a social worker, she began to discover how to express through images her preoccupations that arose from contacts with ordinary people, in the workshop led by Christian Carez (ENSAV – La Cambre). After studying marginal communities in Belgium, she spent several months in USA and later on in India and came back with a photographic work about her experiences. She teaches photography at the Academie of Woluwé Saint Pierre (Bxl) and at the Academie des Beaux Arts of Tournai (Hainaut).
I am interested in General Empowerment project since my photography is talking about the daily life, the human being in his surrounding; and the ways he finds for his survival also. I don't know anything about economy, so the GE project is maybe a way to get more involved into that specific field...


:: Jérôme Puigros-puigener (microboutique)
French - living in Brussels since 1998. Creator of I WANT TO BELIEVE, experimental comics-minizine between 2001 & 2003 (32n° for free), and co-founder of the samizdat HABEAS CORPUS, label with unstable self management which assures the respect of our individual freedom. Publication in progress: CARNETS D'UN JEAN-FOUTRE, a one-year diary in 12 opus (comics, illustrations, photos, "magic-screen"...).
In charge of the MICROBOUTIEK since 2004, a "deposit suitcase" for independent and alternative home-made productions, at Cinema NOVA (Brussels).
Invited by the G.E. for realizing a "carnet de route" about the debates on creating a new type of market and its future evolution. My personal interest? Understanding the A-to-Z concept of this new project and its necessity. 

:: Edgar Szoc (Agence Alter – Radio Panik)
Edgar Szoc is an economist and journalist with Agence Alter. He
specialises in Employment, Training, Higher Education and European
Affairs. He is also involved with Radio Panik, a community radio based in
Brussels where he hosts a weeekly cultural show (Jardin Publik) and takes
part to the editorial board of Microcité, an alternative news programme.
Edgar also teaches Economics to social workers, at Haute-Ecole Paul-Henri
Spaak.

:: Ludo-Sofie-Hans-Veronique (City Mine[d])
Ludo Moyersoen
Active since 15 years in Brussels associatif field. With background as social worker and master in communications. Previous experiences: (running mainly projects in Brussels) Imagica vzw (mediaeducation), Study for a multimediacentre for youngsters in Brussels, Youthcenter “Chicago” (in popular neighbourhood). Now since 3 years City Mine(d) coöperator .

Hans De Man was born in Brussels in 1968. He still lives there, which makes him know the city by heart. A long running sympathy for urban activists City Mine(d) made him recently join them.-
Like a cat he has many lives, a few of which have been spent already:
- As civil robotics engineer he was involved in the development of legged walking and running robots at the Free University of Brussels (VUB).
- As co-founder of the Foton label he releases multiphased/-faced electronics (http://www.foton.be).
- As dj Antz he stands for fierce psycho-/break-/death-/ragga-/speedcore mixes, smile included.
- As concert and party promoter he introduced the [FOtones], [microFOtones], [Go Psycho] and [Mutant] nights, going from pure electronica to pure psycho tunes.
- As curator he created [subliminal], a multidisciplinary arts festival having as theme the subliminal, illusion and perception.
- As installation artist he makes art and science meet, an approach having resulted in multisensory installations such as [clicks'n'cars], [ice'n'bass] and [chill-out 3000].
hans@citymined.org

Sofie Van Bruystegem (° Leuven 1978) is living and working in Brussels since three years. After her studies of history (Leuven) and ‘Développement culturel de la ville’ (La Rochelle – France) she explored the practice of art in public space (Zomer van Anterpen 2001); exchange and network projects (Aller-Retour Nantes Anvers 2001) and experimentation and research of scenic arts (NADINE 2002-’04 & Margarita Production 2004).

Veronique Linard




»» »»
»»




05 CONTACT
City Mine(d): 0032 2 779 59 00
info@citymined.org