The recent renovation of Steenstraat 11 now allows AB to have room for residencies: a place where artists and collectives can develop, experiment and create.

Open Choir Practice – consisting of four Belgian post-jazz voices – kicks things off. Willem Malfliet and Adia Vanheerentals already play together in groups like Adia's Bodem and Willems Woolvs Large Ensemble. Abel Ghekiere is causing a stir under his own name with his recent album In de verte, dit uitzicht. In turn, Engel Peet has been very active in recent years as a musician in theatre and circus productions.

As the first residents, they will be able to benefit from the new spaces and the AB team for five days. This will give them the time and freedom to develop their practice, test out ideas and work together in inspiring surroundings. So the Steenstraat will not only be a showcase location but also a place for exchange, growth and artistic development.

This residency underlines AB’s ambition to actively support artists off stage too. Processes that aren’t always visible to the public are deliberately given space here, as they are essential for sustainable artistic development.