ABRACA NEWSLETTER 12/10/2025 - ENGLISH VERSION
12 octobre 2025
Version Français / Nederlandse Versie
Dear ABRACA members,
We are now well into the fall, and the countdown to the end of the year is in full swing. We at ABRACA however, are not winding down! Not only that, but we have a lot of work to prepare for at the end of the year, which we’d love to tell you about in this newsletter and future announcements, which will soon hit your mailboxes!
This Newsletter we will cover:
– CULTURE BLOCK 14 October 2025
–Call for participation – Research Project “Room for Critical Voices”
– Filem’on Festival in Brussels 22/10 – 5/11
– Cartoon Business, 12/11 – 14/11
CULTURE BLOCK Manifestation 14 October
On 14 October, a large manifestation will take place against the plans of the current federal ARIZONA government. As artists, it’s important to be present and have our voices heard, especially around the plans the ARIZONA government has in regards to the planned pension reforms. Artists are in danger of being treated unfairly, of which not many people are aware. Specifically, the planned pension reforms would mean that only 20% of the period living under the “Statute d’artiste/Kunstenaarsstatuut” would count towards the calculations of your pensions. For example, in a career of 45 years, only 9 years that you’ve used the statute would count towards your pension. This could mean a loss from anywhere between €400 to €1600 per month. If we can make the public eye more aware of the issues we face, we’ll have a much better chance at solving them.
Because of this, various cultural federations and organisations across Belgium have decided to band together and form a “Culture block.” We will gather on Tuesday, the 14th of October at 10h15 at the Place Charles Rogier in Brussels. Afterwards, the block will join with the Bloc Commune Colère, overall guidance will be held by SETCa Culture to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
If you are interested in seeing other organisation’s statements about the following protest, you can check them out via these links:
Statement Cultuurvakbond: (NL)
Call for participation – Research Project “Room for Critical Voices”
ABRACA has been asked to share te following information:
What?
Artists are vital to open debate, critical thinking, and societal progress. Around the world, however, this democratic role is increasingly under pressure — for example through intimidation, interference, and censorship. To address this, the Federal Institute for Human Rights (FIRM) is examining the challenges artists in Belgium face across disciplines, as well as their experience of artistic freedom. The findings will inform concrete policy recommendations.
How to participate
Are you active as an artist in Belgium? We invite you to complete the questionnaire via the link below.
· Time about 15 minutes
· Privacy completely anonymous; individual responses cannot be linked to you
· Impact every response helps build a fuller, more nuanced picture of the situation in Belgium
👉Click here to complete the questionnaire in English
👉Klik hier om de vragenlijst in het Nederlands in te vullen
👉Cliquez ici pour remplir le questionnaire en français
Thank you for your participation. Your contribution helps safeguard artistic freedom in Belgium and build a safe, open civic space for critical voices.
Want to know more?
You can find more information about the projecthere.
Questions or comments? Please email research@firm-ifdh.be
Filem’on Festival Brussels: 22/10 – 5/11
This year, the Filem’on Festival will take place at the end of October. While the festival caters more to a younger audience, they also organise workshops and talks for professionals.
Events that you can attend this year include:
– on 23/10; Filem’on Masterclass: Inclusion in film and cinema
– on 24/10; Meet the Organisations
– on 24/10; Studio Work in Progress presentation with presentations from Thuristar/La Cabane, Sanne De Wilde, Walking the Dog, Animal Tank
All talks and workshops will be held in English. You can check out the program here.
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Cartoon Business in Brussels: 12/11 – 14/11
This year the edition of Cartoon Business will be hosted in Brussels from the 12th to 14th of November. Professionals in Belgium get a special rate for the accreditation fees you have to pay for registration. The three day festival features a program that is mostly focused on the business side of animation (as the title implies), but don’t feel intimidated!
On the first day, 12 November, the event will host a “Job Day.” The working is similar to the Speeddates that happen at ANIMA each year. From 14h-15h local companies will hold a presentation about their work and job opportunities for aspiring talents. Afterwards you can participate in a networking event from 15h to 16h.
The initiative is open to all young talents who attend the event, but make sure not to forget your portfolio, CV and reel! The next two days of the event include several screenings, panels & keynotes. A lot of European organisations will be present at the event, and it will be a nice opportunity to spread your wings outside of just the sector within Belgium. We encourage you to check out the program on the official site.
Author-driven AI Workgroup
ABRACA has joined forces with our Flemish colleagues at the Unie van Regisseurs, De Acteursgilde, BELVA, De Scenaristengilde to form an AI workgroup. The goal of this AI workgroup is to collect and monitor the (ab)use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Belgian audiovisual industry in order to create a legally binding construction within the European AI Act that protects Belgian artists in the audiovisual industry.
ABRACA has also been invited to an informative “AI study day” hosted by ACV where experts and union representatives will examine the impact of Ai on the Belgian and European cultural industry.
With this we want to remind you that it is still possible to share your experiences in regards to GenAi through our anonymous AI tipline. You can find the document here.
Thank you for your continued interest and support! If you are not a member of ABRACA yet, you can join us through this link. Membership is paid, but we work through voluntary contributions. This means you are not held to a standard subscription tariff, but are instead encouraged to give what you are willing and able to. On average, we recommend 5 euro as a student, and 20 euro as a professional. As a member, you will be able to benefit from access to ABRACA exclusive events that we’re actively organising.If becoming a member seems too big of a step for you right now, you’re always welcome to join the discussion on our Discord. Either way, you’ve already been a big help by being interested in our wonderful community!