Move It Kanal | A melting pot of cultures at CEFA

We’ve all had a difficult year. In secondary education in particular, the obstacles after corona still seem considerable... During the months of distance learning and restrictions, the teachers at CEFA came up with solutions for organising artistic workshops. And they had a good reason for doing so, because they believe in the power of art.

These workshops provide space for expression and creativity. They allow students to express themselves in a different way, (re)discover their talents, escape their sometimes complex daily situations or explore a difficult topic such as corona, and really get to grips with it. Let's not beat around the bush: life at CEFA is not always easy for students or teachers. Pupils are not proud of ending up in ‘professional education', which is sometimes equated with the bottom rung of the educational ladder. And when you know that the corona crisis often weighs even more heavily on the lives of these young people, it is not surprising that absenteeism is high. The workshops are a way of at least keeping in touch with a few students. And when the teachers see how some of them regain their motivation, everything starts to make sense again.

This is how a graffiti workshop by visual artist Régis Bour, assisted at the school by Julie Lemenu, began. The assignment: to create a mural designed by the pupils for the new CEFA classrooms. During the first workshop, the students were still quite reserved, but as the sessions progressed, students from the Electricity and Sales departments also joined in. Together, they began to work on the first sketches. They then tried out the effect of spray cans on wooden boards. In this way, they prepared for the final mural. Régis and Julie complemented each other perfectly: both have a passion for graffiti, for the technique and the philosophy behind the movement. One took care of the artistic interpretation and the necessary preparations, while the other supported the process and maintained contact with the school and the students (e.g. for practical or logistical questions).

Then the big day arrived. After several hours and with combined efforts, the mural was completed on the school gate. A colourful fresco that, amidst the construction work, announces the future destination of the building. The drawing is located just one street away from the current building, and pupils and teachers regularly walk past it to admire the final result. Participants in the project proudly have their photo taken with their creation.

The workshop is part of Gratin de cultures. Under this umbrella, various artistic workshops are organised throughout the school year. The final results are then unveiled during the Festivaleke. This year, the event will once again take place in the theatre of La Boutique Culturelle. The graffiti project will be presented there in the form of photographs. You will also discover the other projects in the company of pupils, teachers, artists and partners. For example, clips, short films and documentaries have also been made. During the Festivaleke, everyone can enjoy an intimate moment of sharing in a peaceful playground, against the backdrop of the bustling city life.

As wonderful as this project is, it takes a lot of energy! Dominique Ranwez is a French teacher and has been involved in the project since the beginning (now twelve years ago). Year after year, she has to fight to organise the workshops. Over the years, CEFA has managed to establish a sustainable partnership with La Boutique Culturelle, located a short distance away. This structure is a considerable help in developing projects, such as finding artists who want to participate, securing premises, providing materials, entering into partnerships, etc. Such partnerships – such as with Lasso – are important for giving the project the necessary visibility both within the school and beyond. Step by step, CEFA is working to increase its visibility and forge links with community life in Cureghem. This is done through meetings, identifying specific locations, conducting prospecting using the neighbourhood map, etc. A second workshop with Lasso will follow this school year, based on a new collaboration between an artist and the pupils. To be continued...