Madam Fortuna vzw

Art lab Madam Fortuna

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La Rumba Intercontinental

LA RUMBA INTERCONTINENTAL is an international project that takes the cultural phenomenon of Rumba as a starting point to develop a participatory methodology for intercultural community building. Through three field studies with a unique composition of partner organizations, we actively connect different Rumbero communities in Europe, Africa and America. In this way, we want to jointly explore the cultural peculiarities of this unique art form and their know-how for cultural participation.

Through the joint organisation of three festivals with workshops and performances, and one travelling exhibition, we aim to give a tangible boost to both the exploitation of this unique heritage, the stimulation of its contemporary expression, and the connection of this art form with new audiences. We also aim to build a sustainable network of expertise and to develop a unique participatory methodology. This methodology will be useful in the European and global cultural sector to connect individuals and communities with different backgrounds in an inclusive, horizontal and, above all, co-creative way.

Organizations: Madam Fortuna (lead) in collaboration with KVS (BE), Carabutsi (ES), World Harmonies (FR)

Associated partners: INA (Congo), ICM (Cuba)

Timeline

  • December 2025 – FIELD EXPLORATION HAVANA
  • Januari 2026 – VELDVERKENNING KINSHASA
  • Mei 2026 – VELDVERKENNING BARCELONA
  • Juli 2026 – VIERING BARCELONA
  • July 2026 – PERPIGNAN CELEBRATION
  • June 2027 – CELEBRATION BRUSSELS + EXHIBITION / PUBLICATION LAUNCH 
Meer info: www.rumbaintercontinental.com

Dit project is mogelijk gemaakt dankzij de steun van Creative Europe

2026WOMEN 

Creating, Sharing, and Empowering – Our women's project 2026Women will continue in 2025!

Women around the world face violence on a daily basis, and many of these difficult or inhumane incidents remain under the radar. Led by Madam Fortuna vzw, in collaboration with Because U Art, Les Têtes de l’Art (Marseille), and Carabutsi (Barcelona), our project 2026WOMEN seeks to examine these issues and patriarchal culture, raise awareness, and empower women to take action. With our all-female team, we aim to share our stories through art and dialogue, creating a world that is safe and welcoming for everyone.

All information and activities can be found on the website 2026WOMEN

Practical Information: 2026WOMEN meets every two weeks. Exact dates can be found here:

AGENDA

Textile Workshops
In addition to regular meetings, there are numerous extra sessions for textile and drawing workshops. Check the 2026WOMEN website for full details.

Kickoff Tribunal 2026
On On February 10 , we will host the first kickoff meeting for Tribunal26 at Madam Fortuna, together with 15 partners. The second information session is scheduled for May 6. The main tribunal events will take place on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Arenberg.

International Women's Day: “We Strike Because We Care”
On March 8, 2026WOMEN will participate in “We Strike Because We Care”. During this action we will share information about the 2026 Tribunal and the central themes.

Trajectory 2025: Artistic Practice & Discussion Groups

This year we focus on artistic practice, combined with in-depth discussion groups around socially urgent themes. Guest speakers bring expertise and insight.

Discussion Groups & Themes

The medical side of discrimination

  • Gynecological violence, lack of research into women's bodies and discrimination around menstruation.
  • Rebelle vzw will give a presentation on menstruation and the inequalities that result from it (date to be announced).
  • Hanan Ben Abdeslam will speak on June 21 about perinatal care and sexual well-being.

 Forced marriages and domestic violence

  • HWA is organizing a session on forced marriages and intimate partner violence in Belgium (date to be announced).

Artistic Practice:
 Zang, collectieve improvisatie-workshops, songwriting, forumtheater en feministische fotografie-ateliers.

Future:

 We are working towards professionally recording 1–2 songs in a studio.

 Interested in participating or learning more? Check the open call for participation and visit the "2026WOMEN" website for updates and full schedule.

OPEN CALL

Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/2026women_org

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566563237673

https://www.youtube.com/@2026WOMEN

Think Again

A Groundbreaking Music Project

Think Again is an all-female global music group that brings together women and instruments from diverse cultures. With their own arrangements and an increasingly clear musical line, the group’s repertoire and unique sound are growing.

New trajectory 2025
This year, Think Again focuses on women who have recently arrived in Belgium. During workshops, they share songs from their own culture, which are dissected, rearranged and sung in polyphony together with the instruments of Think Again.

Save the Date: 14 december – House concert at Carl Cappelle! More information coming soon.

Think Again stands for collaboration, creativity and inclusion. It is a celebration of diversity and empowerment, with which the group push musical boundaries and win hearts.

Follow us on Instagram

2026WOMEN

Women around the world face violence on a daily basis and many of these difficult or inhumane incidents remain under the radar. Led by Madam Fortuna vzw, in collaboration with Dona Daria (Rotterdam) and Because U Art (Marseille), our project 2026WOMEN aims to examine these issues and patriarchal culture to raise awareness and empower women to take action. With our all-female team, we want to tell our stories through art and dialogue, so that the world becomes a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

All information and activities can be found on the website 2026WOMEN


22 En 23 NOVEMBER 2024: ‘SIMAWE / SEE MY WAY’

On November 22 & 23, 2024, 40 women from the 2026WOMEN project stood up, sang, acted and told their stories during a fantastic and confronting show. A show about women's rights worldwide, their daily struggle and the infinite power of women.

Since June 2022, a diverse and growing group of women between the ages of 16 and 74 have been meeting twice a month at Madam Fortuna. These women come from different social backgrounds, origins and religions. They meet to exchange ideas on themes related to the status and experience of being a woman. Through this exchange, they form a community where they can share their stories freely and safely.

Driven by the desire to raise awareness and empower girls and women to take action, the group decided to bring their testimonies and concerns to the stage. Their performances are intended to stimulate a collective reflection on transforming patriarchal structures, cultures and behaviors.

2026WOMEN is a multidisciplinary and participatory performance, written by this Antwerp group and two other groups from Rotterdam and Marseille. They were inspired by the Tribunal for Crimes against Women, which took place in Brussels in 1976.

See my way: preparing for 2026

– TEASER –

Borgerhout film streets 

Feel the magic of an open-air cinema during the Borgerhout film streets. 

This summer, the Borgerhout district and Madam Fortuna are bringing cinema to a neighborhood for the 4th year in a row. 5 Borgerhout streets will be transformed into an open-air cinema. The menu includes classics, an action film, and quirky cinema. All films are free for local residents. The film streets will run until September 7.

For the neighborhood

The film streets are primarily intended for the residents of the street itself and the neighbouring streets. But other Borgerhouten residents are also welcome to come and enjoy open-air cinema.

It is not necessary to bring your own chair. Madam Fortuna will set up chairs together with the residents of the street. Admission is free for everyone. Bringing a blanket is not an unnecessary luxury. It can cool down in the evening.

All films start between 9 and 9:30 p.m., as soon as it gets dark. The film selection will be announced later. The streets where an open-air film will be shown are already known.

Unfortunately, the film streets will not take place in case of rain.

Photo
©Jonathan Ramael

Program

Metropolis

Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927) is considered the mother of all science-fiction films. At its core lies the theme of “man and machine.” The film presents a futuristic vision (set in 2026 — one hundred years later). Metropolis inspired groundbreaking science-fiction films such as A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Blade Runner, and The Matrix.  

Just as Fritz Lang envisioned the future of 2026 in 1927, this project aims to present a vision for the year 2026 based on the ideas and lived experiences of young people in 2026. How do they see the world and humanity evolving under the increasing impact of technology? What opportunities, desires, challenges, and obstacles do they foresee? And how can these insights be developed into a compelling performance using the tools of theatre, music, and technology?

Metropolis is becoming a youth festival in collaboration with numerous cultural, social, and educational partners from the city.. Madam Fortuna is currently developing a scenario in which this theme takes center stage. Year 2025, our world is strongly shaped by the rapid implementation of technological innovations. This swift evolution compels everyone to reflect: What do I want from technology? What does technology want from me? With the Metropolis project, Madam Fortuna wants to create a current story about this.  

Together with the city's young people, we want to question this theme and give it artistic form.

Madam Fortuna is launching this project in collaboration with partners including hetpaleis, Muziektheater Transparant, Tutti Fratelli, Arenberg, KASK Antwerpen, de! Kunsthumaniora, Blindman and De Singel.  

Het wordt een festival van en door jongeren. Hoe zien zij de toekomst met ‘the man and the machine’? Een festival met podcast, theater, muziek, muziektheater, workshops, debat, film, tentoonstelling, catwalk, spoken word en dans.

When? Following 2026

Ben jij creatief en tussen de 16 en 25 jaar? Heb je een passie voor kunst en doe je graag mee aan Create Your/Our Future?

Open call CYOF

Urban Spring and Global Autumn Sessions

In 2024 and 2025, everyone is welcome at Madam Fortuna for the concert series the Urban Spring and Global Autumn Sessions.

Na de Urban Spring Sessions gaan we in november 2024 verder met de Global Autumn Sessions.

Get ready for four evenings with four concerts, focusing on emerging professional and semi-professional musical talent. For the second concert series of this year, bands are on the program that bring world music in the broadest sense of the word.

Doors open at 7pm and close at 10pm each time.

  • Saturday 16/11: Mal Arreados Trio
  • Saturday 7/12: Stiques
  • Friday 13/12: Table for 3
  • Friday 20/12: Think again

All concerts are free to attend!

Voor de Global Autumn Session zijn we in Mei gestart met de Urban Spring sessies, a concert series featuring music styles such as hip hop, rap, slam poetry, spoken word, jazz and funk.

The first sessions consisted of 4 concerts of 40 minutes each, in which R&B, heavy guitar violence, traditional and oriental jazz merged.

In collaboration with the Jazzstudio we had the pleasure of welcoming four young talented Antwerp jazz artists

  • Tuesday 21/05: Jazzstudio met Manon Scuttenaire, Chokri Daay, Ahmed Hawwash en Matthias Van den Broeck

In samenwerking met Chapp de Mic organiseerden we twee avonden waarin jonge MC’s, rappers en zangers centraal stonden. De groeiende, levendige gemeenschap van de Antwerpse hiphopscene schitterde op ons podium.

  • Tuesday 28/05: Angelkingboss, Adjua en life of Marge
  • Friday 14/06: B!NO, Aiko en Thommy

En Last but not least sloten we de Urban Spring Sessions af met Ahinamá trio.

  • Friday 7/06

This project is possible thanks to the support of the City of Antwerp.

Hannibal

De Punische oorlogen, als metafoor voor alle oorlogen die vandaag worden gevochten in deze alsmaar veranderende, angstaanjagende wereld. Hannibal biedt een lens waardoor we de confrontatie tussen oud en nieuw verkennen. De traditionele Europese cultuur staat volgens sommigen onder druk van het hyperdiverse Europa. Het idee dat barbaren opnieuw aan de poort staan, klaar om de Europese geschiedenis uit te wissen, lijkt, hoe absurd ook, helaas terug op te leven. Hannibal opent daarom, via de unieke synergie tussen opera en slam, hedendaagse dans en acteerwerk, een raam op het verleden, heden en de toekomst van Europa. De makers nemen als startpunt de opera Dido en Aeneas waarin de mythische oorsprong van het conflict tussen Europa en Noord-Afrika het decor is.

In Hannibal vervlechten artiesten uit Afrika en Europa hedendaagse video- en projectietechnieken met traditionele live schilderkunst en akoestische instrumenten. Gebracht door velen, vanuit één hartslag

Madam Fortuna participates in this unique project with a spicy choir led by Enrique Noviello. 

A project by KVS / Brussels in collaboration with De Munt, Madam Fortuna and many others.

For more information: see www.kvs/hannibal

Credits

THINK AGAIN!

Think Again is a groundbreaking music project that brings together women and instruments from very different cultures in one all-female global music group. The participants are all passionate amateur musicians, with a common goal: sharing music from all over the world, reinterpreted and mixed with European influences.

The heart of Think Again lies in the interplay of various instruments and music styles. From traditional sounds deeply rooted in cultures outside Europe, to fresh arrangements that push the boundaries of the known. Through deconstruction and reinterpretation, Think Again brings traditional world music to life in new, exciting forms.

Participation and group connection are central to the project. Through innovative methods and musical games, participants are encouraged to find their own voice and contribute to collective creation. Each participant is encouraged to grow and flourish in a safe and supportive environment.

Think Again embodies the power of collaboration, creativity and inclusion. It is not only a journey through different musical traditions, but also a celebration of diversity and empowerment. With a focus on performing and sharing their music with the world, Think Again is ready to conquer stages and hearts with their unique sound and powerful message.

Performances

Repetities

Contact

BROOS – Te Gast

BROOS is a performance about the emotional and physical consequences of sexual abuse.
A young woman takes us into her world of denial and ignoring, until a liberating catharsis, in which she rises again courageously, with dignity and full of strength.

Despite the sensitivity of this spicy subject, the performance will... lightness and even humor are played.

With this performance we want to open up the conversation around this vulnerable subject.

A warm welcome!

Speeldata en tickets

Credits

Location

INNER LIFE

A project by Muziektheater Transparant in co-production with Madam Fortuna and De Singel

INNER LIFE is the latest composition by award-winning composer Wim Henderickx.

INNER LIFE is an alchemical formula, or a game, in which all possible musical groups and musical personalities can participate.

INNER LIFE is a composition by Wim Henderickx (1962-2022), award-winning composer, percussionist and music educator.

Under the musical direction of Diederik Glorieux, HERMESensemble and Nemø ensemble worked together with, among others, a choir from Madam Fortuna, basketball players, a brass band of students and music associations from all over the city. All these people came together in the nomadic concert INNER LIFE.

Before the show toured various locations, INNER LIFE premiered at DE SINGEL, where the audience met an ever-changing group of performers. It was a highlight of our city festival Dear Antwerp.

The occasional choir of Madam Fortuna with more than 25 participants is led by Bart Patoor and Céline di Maccio.

Dates

About the music

Credits

Plastic Fantastic – Te Gast

Graduation performance by Kato Cornil

In Plastic Fantastic, a young woman pushes herself to the limit in her search for ultimate beauty. Can she become the most beautiful, the truest version of herself?
Is she too good to be true?

In her princess dramas, Elfriede Jelinek confronts us with the position of women in modern society. Her Snow White dialogue zooms in on the interrelationship of Beauty, Truth and Death. In this graduation performance, the director and players look for how compelling our beauty ideals are, and what role our fear of death plays in this.

Dates

Credits

Location