Brussels festival practises and preaches DIY approach
The DIY Day festival in Brussels aims to show locals the value of reusing, swapping and repairing everyday items
A new lease of life
The event is the brainchild of Ben de Melker from Brussels, who also runs MicroMarché, a creative hub that’s hard to classify. It’s home to varied social, cultural and artistic organisations, it holds hands-on workshops, it’s a co-working space, and it hosts world music concerts in its courtyard bar.
The volunteer-run DIY Day festival gathers all these strands together. Now in its fifth edition, it will focus on five themes – society, culture, ecology, alternative economy and technology.
“I’ve been organising events for the last 10 years,” says de Melker, “but before it was purely for commercial events. Then I went travelling for two years and decided I wanted to try to find something that was more accessible to everybody – a free festival for the community.”
During those travels, he spent a lot of time working on farms. “There was all this sharing of skills, and learning of new skills,” he says, “and I realised I’d like to do something like that here.”
So he put his head together with some friends and his brother, and DIY Day was born. “The group of volunteers has changed over the years,” he explains. “It’s kind of an organic movement. Some people stepped out and others chipped in, helping out one year, then wanting to invest more of their time and energy the next.”
Junk repurposed
The motif throughout the festival is one of community, of sharing, learning and rejecting waste. Under the social umbrella, you’ll find kids’ entertainment, music, live painting, street theatre and circus workshops, as well as activities with a wider impact.
We’re trying to avoid using too many resources
“There’s an organisation of friends of ours that tries to make a link between people who have a handicap and people who don’t,” says de Melker. “They’ll be doing a workshop that’s accessible for everyone, and they’ll be making a communal artwork that anyone can join in with.”
Ecology is covered by outdoor sessions on compost and natural paints, as well as a chance to talk to producers of organic vegetable baskets and artisan beer. Sustainability is also a priority. “We avoid electricity at the festival,” says de Melker. “We have some where the bar is, and for certain artists, but otherwise we avoid activities that need electricity. It’s the same with water; we’re trying to avoid using too many resources.”
You will find electricity, for instance, at the “MicroFactory”, fitted out with 3D printers and a laser cutter, plus interactive installations. And a lot of what you’ll see here is handmade: junk repurposed and given a new lease of life.
“It’s all about the consciousness of these things,” explains de Melker. “Reusing, swapping and, when something breaks, realising that you don’t have to throw it away. You can repair it, you can have fun while doing it, you can learn a skill, you can save money.”
The festival is a collaboration between MicroMarché and Bronks theatre, and events will be held in the two venues, in the Sint-Katelijne square and in the park on Steenkoolkaai.
6 June 13.00-22.00, in and around MicroMarché, Brussels
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