A story of Leuven where our heritage team uses heritage as an engine for innovation and experiment. Leuven projects aim to work together with communities and creative new industries to make our stories accessible for everyone, without boundaries (physical, digital). f.e. The heritage cell and MIJNLeuven structurally works together and bring together people and stories; trying out new formats, use unexpected places…

Storytelling in the historical town hall of Leuven – ‘tests for repurposing’ A story of Leuven where our heritage team uses heritage as an engine for innovation and experiment. April 28th of 2019. It is National Heritage Day in Flanders. An annual event in which heritage communities and institutions open their doors for public and tell their stories. In Leuven the heritage cell develops every year a new and tailormade programme and supports organisations who wish to participate. This year’s theme is ‘craftmanship’ and the Leuven headquarter is the historical town hall. Situated at the heart of Leuven, not only it’s architectural facade is a ‘tour de force’ but the craftwork inside as well is breath-taking. In fact, everyone should visit it one day, but today we do not plan a traditional visit. Instead visitors are offered a ‘new experience’. - You must know that the historical town hall is being repurposed. By repurposing this heritage site the city aims to create an open house where visitors can discover the history of Leuven and the town hall. A meaningful and accessible experience is our goal. That is exact what is being tested today: how can we make stories accessible through experiments and innovative storytelling and how do we do this together with our communities. The heritage cell worked together with MIJNLeuven, a youngster label of the city of Leuven, contemporary artists, experts and scholars. And with local producers. 10 o’ clock. Doors are opening. It is raining a bit– a typical Belgian weather - but an excellent day for visiting the ‘heritage scene’. A giant robot made out of ‘waste materials’, is welcoming the visitors outside. The installation is a symbol for crafts of the future and is made by scholars of the Technical Institute and the Leuven artist Hans Geyens – It interacts with the beautiful crafted façade and its statues. Going up the stairs the smell of fresh, locally brewed coffee is welcoming you. First stop is the VR experience, who is taking the visitors back to 1360 ‘the rebellion of the craftsmen’. Pieter Coutereel , leader of the rebellion and today a statue façade, starts his story. With a view on the Grote Mark you are introduced to Leuven and several crafts of the Middle ages and the reason for this rebellion. Patricians and craftsmen are directly opposite against each other. After this introduction a ‘route/ trail’ tells the rest of the story of this rebellion while passing through several chambers and the Gothic Hall - and so visiting almost the entire building. Each stop offers in addition a combination of ancient archive pieces, that are sound- and lightscaped while artists of MIJNLeuven are interacting with their art, presenting a contemporary interpretation. Last stop in this ‘trail’ is a live narrator. Jumping on and off the benches, opening the historical windows while telling how the rebellion led to the death of several patricians who tried to crush the rebellion, being thrown out of the windows of this specific building….. Fascination to see how the audience is immersed in the old and the new, to see how they listen and look again and more closely, how they discover new things. Who is up for more innovation and experiment today has a wide range of options. First there are the ‘open atelier- workshops’ offered by the young artist of MIJNLEUVEN in a side wing of the town hall: ceramics, sculpting, printing art, woodworking and calligraphy. Real craftsmen at work today. Secondly in the main hall contemporary artists are present. Ief Spincemaille demonstrates the making off of his rope being 60 m long and 30 cm thick. The rope itself lost its function, but - traveling around the world – it searches for new meanings. Young and old discover the rope, they play, sit, sleep on it, feel it, replace it… Soon we see a live discussion on the purpose of the ‘crafting’ and how it creates meaning for ‘makers’ and audience. Bram Kerkhofs, created two chandeliers for the town hall. Each chandelier is a 3D puzzle made out of more then 3500 steal plates who are inspired on the ‘pinacles’, the gothic towers of the town hall. The artist is overwhelmed by all the questions and positive reactions of the public getting in touch with the craftsman himself, the materials, the story behind the chandeliers and the making process. The same ‘magic’ happens at the salons. Prior to a planned restoration in summer 2020 a team of experts is investigating small parts of the walls, doors, paintings and other materials. A restorer is explaining (non-stop) how this is done and what the aim is. Not having the time to sit down and eat she is thrilled by the questions and positive reactions by the public. When we close the doors at 6pm, we welcomed 4000 visitors in the town hall. Families, tourist, young and old. Today was proven once more that heritage is an engine for innovation and experiment, and that our history shapes our communities and our identity.

European dimension: Leuven projects aim to work together with communities and creative new industries to make our stories accessible for everyone, without boundaries (physical, digital). The heritage cell and MIJNLeuven structurally work together and bring together people and stories; trying out new formats, use unexpected places…We see our heritage is inspiring young and old, professionals and volunteers, scholars etc., our heritage is a source of inspiration for today’s communities. During National heritage day 2019 we were united - heritage brings people together. We are connected by what we share in our hearts, and that is much more powerful then what divides us.