Neighbourhood Voices - Creative Dialogues in Brussels
Les Nouveaux Disparus asbl
Belgium
In a multicultural city like Brussels, social and cultural tensions can weaken dialogue and social
cohesion. The Neighbourhood Voices project creates safe spaces for encounter through
participatory and artistic workshops organised directly within neighbourhoods. Through non-
formal education methods and a theatrical experience, residents share their experiences,
explore local and European issues, and collectively develop ideas for action to strengthen social
cohesion and revitalise their neighbourhoods.
Neighbourhood Voices is a participatory cultural project in Brussels that aims to strengthen dialogue,
encounters, and civic participation in local neighbourhoods. Activities take place under the big top of Les
Nouveaux Disparus, temporarily installed in different municipalities to create an open and welcoming
cultural space in the city.
The project offers two participatory workshops bringing together around ten residents from diverse social
and cultural backgrounds. Combining theatre improvisation and musical awakening with collective
intelligence methods, the sessions invite participants to share experiences, develop mutual listening, and
explore the realities and challenges of their neighbourhood.
Participants then attend the theatre performance Le Songe by Jamal Youssfi, which addresses migration,
solidarity, and mutual support. The performance is followed by a discussion with the artists, linking the themes of the play with participants’ lived experiences.
By encouraging encounters between neighbours, artistic expression, and civic dialogue, Neighbourhood
Voices seeks to foster collective dynamics and strengthen local social cohesion.