Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations

This paper takes the case of the Brass'Art cultural café located on the municipal square of Molenbeek, as a starting point for a study aimed at understanding the construction of a common urban space with a pluralistic purpose. Based on an ethnographic study between May 2017 and January 2018, th...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nadia Fadil, Maryam Kolly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles 2019-11-01
Series:Brussels Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/4031
_version_ 1818476302269677568
author Nadia Fadil
Maryam Kolly
author_facet Nadia Fadil
Maryam Kolly
author_sort Nadia Fadil
collection DOAJ
description This paper takes the case of the Brass'Art cultural café located on the municipal square of Molenbeek, as a starting point for a study aimed at understanding the construction of a common urban space with a pluralistic purpose. Based on an ethnographic study between May 2017 and January 2018, this article aims to show how the presence of alcohol in this space mobilises and concentrates diverse and even contradictory repertoires – of a discursive, ethical and emotional nature – behind the creation of public space. The Brass'Art case study reflects at the micro and local level the implications of the coexistence of agents with different religious sensitivities and orientations. According to a pragmatic methodology, this paper tries to demonstrate that the fine tuning of the balance of power between the majority and the minority takes place not so much through conscious negotiations or strategies of “civic indifference”, but through practical adjustments in keeping with the principle of community relations.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T09:23:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-631926efb0274d1ba294b2cea5389708
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2031-0293
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T09:23:46Z
publishDate 2019-11-01
publisher Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles
record_format Article
series Brussels Studies
spelling doaj.art-631926efb0274d1ba294b2cea53897082022-12-22T01:54:35ZengUniversité Saint-Louis BruxellesBrussels Studies2031-02932019-11-0110.4000/brussels.4031Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relationsNadia FadilMaryam KollyThis paper takes the case of the Brass'Art cultural café located on the municipal square of Molenbeek, as a starting point for a study aimed at understanding the construction of a common urban space with a pluralistic purpose. Based on an ethnographic study between May 2017 and January 2018, this article aims to show how the presence of alcohol in this space mobilises and concentrates diverse and even contradictory repertoires – of a discursive, ethical and emotional nature – behind the creation of public space. The Brass'Art case study reflects at the micro and local level the implications of the coexistence of agents with different religious sensitivities and orientations. According to a pragmatic methodology, this paper tries to demonstrate that the fine tuning of the balance of power between the majority and the minority takes place not so much through conscious negotiations or strategies of “civic indifference”, but through practical adjustments in keeping with the principle of community relations.http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/4031public spacegentrificationimmigrationmulticulturalism
spellingShingle Nadia Fadil
Maryam Kolly
Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations
Brussels Studies
public space
gentrification
immigration
multiculturalism
title Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations
title_full Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations
title_fullStr Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations
title_full_unstemmed Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations
title_short Brass’Art in Molenbeek: an urban experiment in community relations
title_sort brass art in molenbeek an urban experiment in community relations
topic public space
gentrification
immigration
multiculturalism
url http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/4031
work_keys_str_mv AT nadiafadil brassartinmolenbeekanurbanexperimentincommunityrelations
AT maryamkolly brassartinmolenbeekanurbanexperimentincommunityrelations