Belgium

EventChange

EventChange, launched in 2021 to address the sustainability needs of the cultural sector, offers eco-consulting services, free online tools, and organizes events such as the Sustainable Culture Forum. The platform also fosters collaboration between actors in the sector.

An initiative of EventChange

Overview of the project

The EventChange platform aims to unite and support the Belgian cultural sector – particularly the French-speaking sector – in its drive towards greater sustainability.
To achieve this, EventChange provides free online tools for cultural structures (practical fact sheets on various themes; directory of sustainable suppliers; explanatory videos; blog with sustainable news from the sector).
EventChange also offers 2-year support to cultural structures to help them with their transition. We currently support over twenty cultural structures in Wallonia, including museums, festivals, theaters, concert halls and cultural events.
For the past two years, we have also been organizing the Sustainable Culture Forum, which in 2023 welcomed over 200 professionals from the Belgian cultural sector. The Forum covers a wide range of topics: adapting to change; eco-conditionality; mobility; financing the transition; rethinking artistic practices; etc.
We also have the opportunity to be called upon to give our expertise on the subject.

Objective

The EventChange platform aims to federate, equip and support the Belgian cultural sector - particularly the French-speaking sector - in its adaptation and sustainable transition.

Level of progress

Ongoing research

Project timeline

2021 - project still in progress

Quantitative results

Sustainable Culture Forum
– In 2022, 150 participants
– 2023, over 200 participants
Training:
– 3 workshops organized in 2023
On our website :
– 11 factsheets
– 25 blog articles
– 6 explanatory videos
– Over 100 references in the sustainable supplier directory
Support :
Originally funded to support 20 cultural structures, we are currently supporting 24, and continue to receive requests.
Network
– Over 500 people on our LinkedIn account
– Over 500 subscribers to our monthly newsletter

Qualitative results

EventChange is increasingly recognized for its expertise on sustainability issues in the cultural sector. This recognition is reflected in the many requests we receive.
As an expert on the subject of culture and sustainability, in particular:
– EFES sustainable action plan, finalization phase
– Table de concertation ” Durabilité ” – Contrat de filière des Musiques Actuelles
– Walloon Zero Waste Roadmap
– Coordination of the energy watch unit launched after covid by the FWB culture cabinet
Participation in events such as :
– Au Brass, Zero Carbon event
– Rabbko working group
– Eco-responsible event days in Lyon
– Ministry of Sustainable Development symposium on the SDGs

Financing

This platform is currently subsidized at Wallonia-Brussels level by the Minister of Culture, Bénédicte Linard, and at Walloon level by the Minister of the Environment, Céline Tellier.

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About the
organisation

EventChange

website
Lili Brodbeck
Coordinatrice
eventchange@pastoo.be

The EventChange platform was launched in 2021 after the cultural sector recognized a real need to begin its transition towards greater sustainability.
EventChange’s actions can be broken down into different activities:
– Support for cultural structures (eco-counseling work)
– Provision of free online tools: practical information sheets, blog, directory of sustainable suppliers, etc.
– Organization of the Sustainable Culture Forum, the second edition of which took place in 2023, on December 5 in Charleroi.
– Organization of thematic workshop days for industry professionals.
– Contribution as an expert: creation of criteria and eco-conditions for calls for projects.
– Networking and collaboration between players in the cultural sector

Other partners / supporters

Since 2023, EventChange has been taking part in SamenDurable.
SamenDurable is a synergy within the cultural world, providing information, exchanges and transversal cooperation on climate transition for and by cultural players in the Brussels area. The initiative is supported by the Brussels networks RAB/BKO, Brussels Museums and La Concertation, and is developed in close collaboration with content partners EventChange and Pulse Transitienetwerk. SamenDurable reaches over 300 organizations and works – with culture as a driving force – towards the transition to a socially just and sustainable society.