Ecopolis

🪸 We had an incredible time at the eleventh edition of the Fair(er) Futures Festival ECOPOLIS. Once again, ECOPOLIS brought together thinkers, artists, writers, poets and activists from near and far. This year, we co-created a Global Constitution grounded in ecological justice, reflected together on AI, explored queer ecology and queer resistance, watched films that show more-than-human worlds and delved into emancipatory climate propaganda. A huge thank you to all our speakers, partner organisations and everyone who joined us. We can’t wait to welcome you back next year ✨ And a special thanks to our sponsors - @gef_europe , @literatuurvlaanderen and @vdkbank - for making it all possible 💚 @kaaitheater @oikos.denktank @muntpunt @vub_crosstalks @demarkten @resetvlaanderen @sophia.asbl.vzw @deburen_brussel 📸 @lauradetremmerie

Walk with us and listen to the sounds of Brussels, each one telling its own story. This walk is created by the artists of Forsiti’A, who live in the streets of Brussels. The artists capture hidden sounds and, after interpreting them in their own way, bring them to life. Through various workshops, they learn – together with creators Max-Lena Vanden Eynde and Aisha Adepoju – the basics of translating their stories into an audio walk. Let yourself be carried away in this world full of sound, and see the city through the eyes of those who know it like no other. Forsiti’A (@theaterforsitia ) initiates and supervises social-artistic projects with vulnerable Brussels residents. ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 13h30⁠ 🚶 walk, starts at Muntpunt 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ 🖇️ presented by @kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @resetvlaanderen x @muntpunt x @demarkten x @sophia.asbl.vzw x @deburen_brussel

Who really holds the power in Europe? 📑 Join us for this lobby tour in NL & EN organised and guided by Hans van Scharen of Corporate Europe Observatory⁠ ⁠ 𝗘𝗡 | This walk exposes the role that corporate lobby groups play in EU decision-making, now more than ever. Who are they, how do they get what they want, and how do they wield enormous influence over you and others in Europe — from the food on your plate to the rules for bankers and the chemicals allowed in everyday products.⁠ ⁠ 𝗡𝗟 | Deze wandeling legt de rol bloot die lobbygroepen uit het bedrijfsleven spelen in de EU-besluitvorming - nu meer dan ooit. Wie zijn ze, hoe krijgen ze wat ze willen en hoe hebben ze bakken invloed op jou en anderen in Europa, van het voedsel op je bord tot regels voor bankiers en de chemicaliën die zijn toegestaan in alledaagse producten.⁠ ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 13h30 in NL & 15h30 in EN⁠ 📍European Quarter⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ @ecopolis.be is presented by Kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @muntpunt x @demarkte

What can we all learn from queer resistance? 🪸 Join us and let’s find out in this conversation with Kes Otter Lieffe: 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 For marginalised communities, creating collective forms of “home” has long been a way to survive in a hostile world. In times of crisis, and with future crises looming, these practices of resistance, care, collective grief and kinship feel more vital than ever. What might we all learn from queer resistance? In her novel 'Home is a Verb', set against the backdrop of a profound future crisis, Kes Otter Lieffe explores these questions with tenderness and urgency. In this interview with the author, we draw on readings from the book and journey through themes of Threat, Fight, Flight— from survival and the immediacy of danger, through organising and collective resistance, towards transformation and the possibility of new ways of being. 📅 29.11 at 13.30 📍Muntpunt (Tribune) 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes the full programme on Saturday)

How to keep hope alive in times of crisis? Together with the four main speakers of 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦 - 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿(𝗲𝗿) 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 we begin Saturday with a panel discussion on 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲.⁠ ⁠ Joyeeta Gupta, Jens Meijen, Jonas Staal and Kes Otter Lieffe reflect on how to see hope not as an escape, but as an active choice to keep building a just world. Together, they explore what ecological justice means in practice — and how active hope can serve as a force for resistance, imagination, and renewal.⁠ ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 10h30⁠ 📍 Muntschouwburg⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ @ecopolis.be is presented by Kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @muntpunt x @demarkten ⁠

What does a socially correct climate policy mean? How do we determine the limits within which our planet remains livable and everyone on Earth can pursue a good life? 🍃⁠ In this conversation, Joyeeta Gupta, renowned climate scientist, and David Van Reybrouck, writer with a sharp eye for democracy and decolonization, engage in dialogue. Together, they explore what a practical climate justice means and how we can build a world in which we respect the limits of the earth while strengthen social equality. An inspiring encounter between science and literature, analysis and imagination. ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 15.30⁠ 📍GC De Markten⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ @ecopolis.be is presented by @kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @muntpunt x @demarkten x @sophia.asbl.vzw x @deburen_brussel w/ the support of @gef_europe @vdkbank @literatuurvlaanderen

AI seems to be moving too fast for society to keep up with it. Its impact on schools, jobs, the information ecosystem, and even our social lives is undeniable 🕸️⁠ ⁠ Join Jens Meijen to reflect on the impact of AI, in an interactive fishbowl discussion 𝗔𝗜: 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 to share your experiences and make your voice heard.⁠ ⁠ In the following panel 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, we bring together three voices that each explore the intersections between literature, science and ecology in their own way: Gry Ulstein, Jens Meijen and Emma Zuiderveen will discuss together with moderator Fiep van Bodegom, how literature – in its many forms – can contribute to our understanding of the climate crisis, and what role art and fiction can play in evoking new ways of thinking and acting.⁠ ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 13h30 & 15h30⁠ 📍 Muntpunt ⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ @ecopolis.be is presented by Kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @muntpunt x @demarkten

[Collective feminist reading gathering: Queer and feminist ecologies] 🗓️ Saturday 29 November - from 15:30 to 17:00 📍 Muntpunt - Literair Salon 🎙️Moderation: @denosaurx ✨ Mandatory registration to @ecopolis.be required - link in bio 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ Why are queer and feminist movements central to the climate struggle? How can we draw inspiration from more-than-human systems for care, kinship, and collective liberation? Who says nature is binary? These are some of the questions we will aim to unpack together for this upcoming collective feminist reading gathering in the frame of Ecopolis. You don't have to prepare anything. We gather around a buffet of texts and other formats. You choose a place to sit, read/listen, and write. All you need is a desire to dive into the text and explore thoughts together around the queer and feminist ecologies. No prior knowledge of the subject is necessary. 🖇️ presented by @kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @resetvlaanderen x @muntpunt x @demarkten x @sophia.asbl.vzw x @deburen_brussel

What does a socially correct climate policy mean? How do we determine the limits within which our planet remains livable and everyone on Earth can pursue a good life? 🍃⁠ ⁠ Joyeeta Gupta works on a global constitution for social justice, ecological sustainability and global solidarity. In the workshop 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, she invites us to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of people and the planet in the 21st century. To explore ideas, listen to minority groups’ perspectives and work together to build a global constitution that focuses on social justice, ecological sustainability and global solidarity. ⁠ ⁠ Afterwards let’s continue the conversation in a talk on 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 with Joyeeta Gupta and David Van Reybrouck, to explore what a practical climate justice means and how we can build a world in which we respect the limits of the earth while strengthen social equality. ⁠ ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 13h30 & 15h30⁠ 📍GC De Markten⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ @ecopolis.be is presented by Kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @muntpunt x @demarkten

Let’s write, think, make art and take action together ⚡️ 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦 - 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿(𝗲𝗿) 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 ⁠ ⁠ 𝗡𝗟 | ECOPOLIS presenteert een programma vol gesprekken, interviews en interactieve formats. Deze editie vormen vier centrale gasten het hart van het festival: Joyeeta Gupta, Jens Meijen, Kes Otter Lieffe en Jonas Staal.⁠ ⁠ 𝗙𝗥 | ECOPOLIS présente un programme riche en conversations, d'interviews et de formats interactifs. Quatre invité·es principaux·ales forment le cœur du festival cette édition: Joyeeta Gupta, Jens Meijen, Kes Otter Lieffe et Jonas Staal.⁠ ⁠ 𝗘𝗡 | ECOPOLIS presents a programme full of conversations, interviews and interactive formats. This edition, four central guests form the heart of the festival: Joyeeta Gupta, Jens Meijen, Kes Otter Lieffe and Jonas Staal.⁠ ⁠ Find the full programme on ecopolis.be 🔗⁠ ⁠ 📅 28. & 29.11.2025⁠ 📍various locations in Brussels⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ presented by @kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @resetvlaanderen x @muntpunt x @demarkten x @sophia.asbl.vzw x @deburen_brussel w/ the support of @gef_europe @vdkbank @literatuurvlaanderen

What role does imagination play in the struggle for climate justice? 🌀⁠ ⁠ @jonas_staal ’s early work focused heavily on the analysis and design of political imagination, power structures, and the question of how art can construct a new public sphere. A project such as New World Summit (2012–present)—a series of ‘parliaments’ for politically persecuted groups—explored how we can form alternative communities against the surveillance, repression, and state terror of the War on Terror. ⁠ ⁠ In 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, curator Laura Herman invites the artist to present and discuss some of his recent projects. ⁠ ⁠ Afterwards join us also for 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵: 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? with short films by Jonas Staal, lau persijn and Mona D’hertefelt followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and the audience.⁠ ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 13h30 & 15h30⁠ 📍Kaaistudios⁠ 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ @ecopolis.be is presented by Kaaitheater x @oikos.denktank x @vub_crosstalks x @muntpunt x @demarkten

What if our transness, our queerness, our divergence, and our power, is a call to connect? What if that connection could redefine who we are? 🌸🐳 Join us for 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀, a queer writing workshop by speculative fiction writer Kes Otter Lieffe.⁠ ⁠ This workshop will explore the precious places that cause us to breathe deep. The mountains and rivers and the overgrown corners of car parks. We will find out what happens if we write down our dreams for the places, and beings, we love. Participation will be by consent: sharing our stories is invited, but never mandatory. ⁠ ⁠ 📅 28.11. at 19h⁠ 📍Muntpunt (Literair Salon)⁠ 🩶 12/8/5/0€⁠ ⁠ On Saturday we also welcome you to the conversation 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 and afterwards the reading group 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯 with Kes Otter Lieffe.⁠ ⁠ 📅 29.11. at 13h30 & 15h30⁠ 📍Muntpunt 🩶 24/20/*18/14/12€ (ticket includes full programme on Saturday)⁠ ⁠ 🖇️ Ecopolis is presented by Kaaitheater x Oikos x VUB/Crosstalks x Muntpunt x GC De Markten⁠