In an ever-changing world and in a diverse city like Brussels, music has the capacity to unite people. Through a series of Talks AB and KU Leuven examine societal challenges and look for solutions through the lens of music and nightlife culture.

This debate is organised in collaboration with Music Cities Events.

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From strengthening societal well-being, increasing tourism, diversifying the economy and elevating the built environment; music can be the key to raising the value and health of any city. On 25 April, culture advisors, UNESCO City of Music Representatives, music district managers and city officials will meet at AB to discuss the role music is playing in their cities, as well as share relevant projects, tips and successes.

The event will kick off with a special presentation by Siena Beacham, Marketing Manager at Music Cities Events outlining the key steps cities have been taking or should take in order to advance the music sector and make the most out of it. The evening will continue with a panel discussion on how to use music as a community builder and an economic driver while exploring case studies of how developing a cross-sectoral strategic approach can benefit cities.

Join us to understand the different elements and players that make up a music ecosystem, find out how to harness the value of music and join forces with key local and international music cities leaders to use music to change your neighbourhood, town or city for the better.

If you work in - or are simply passionate about - music, culture, city planning, night-time economy or tourism, then this event is for you.

PANEL

Katja Lucker - Managing Director at Musicboard (Berlin, Germany)

Katja Lucker is a Berlin-based cultural manager. In the past, she has worked at the Kesselhaus in the Kulturbrauerei, the Karneval der Kulturen, the Haus der Berliner Festspiele and for RUHR.2010. In 2012, Katja was appointed to set up the Musicboard in Berlin in order to provide new impulses within the city's pop music scene. In 2015, she became the Managing Director. The Musicboard has been organising the Pop-Kultur Festival since 2015 and has been the host of Fête de la Musique since 2018.

Jochem Daelman - Co-founder of Onkruid (Vilvoorde, Belgium) 

Jochem Daelman is the co-founder of Onkruid, an interdisciplinary studio combining expertise in architecture, visual arts, marketing, music, and culture to further develop the creative context of cities. Onkruid is best known for creating Horst: a movement dedicated to developing talent, cities and spaces. Horst takes place in the form of a Lab, Exhibition and Festival in Vilvoorde, just outside of Brussels. Over the years, it grew into an internationally renowned platform for cutting-edge electronic music and inventive in-situ art and architecture.

Andreas Høegh - Head of the Musicon Secretariat (Denmark, Copenhagen) 

Andreas Høegh is an urban developer based in Denmark. Andreas has a background in urban development in the cultural field, in startup environments and in retail. He has been Head of the Musicon Secretariat for the past four years. Musicon stands for the transformation of an old concrete factory into a new and creative part of the city of Roskilde in Denmark. Musicon differs from other urban development projects because of its agile development process, which relies heavily on co-creation and partnerships.

Burak Pak - Professor of Architectural Collaborative Design, Configuration of Collective Spaces and Digital Media at KU Leuven (Leuven, Belgium) 

Burak Pak is a Professor of Architectural Collaborative Design, Collective Spaces and Digital Media at the KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture. Burak started working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty on ‘Alternative Urban Projects for the Brussels Capital Region’. He is the co-founder of the Altering Practices Research Group. His research covers an interdisciplinary area between architecture and urban design, participation and digital spatial media and focuses on enabling inclusion in and through design.

Moderator: Siena Beacham - Marketing Manager at Music Cities Events (USA/Spain)

Siena Beacham is the Marketing Manager at Music Cities Events. She works to grow the company’s global network, educate the world on the concept of music cities, promote the many event series the team produces and engage with leading professionals in the field to make cities stronger using music as a key tool. Siena is dedicated to working with cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to promote equity of opportunity and social wellbeing for all people, especially those who are marginalised or underserved.

This event is presented by AB, KU Leuven, and Music Cities Events. Music Cities Events organises international conferences on the topic of music cities, music policy and music tourism. MCE also produces the Music Cities Awards, and runs the Music Cities Community, the first-ever platform for professionals in all industries using music to create more value in towns, cities & places.