086
Arte Útil archive nr:
086
Initiator:
Jeanne van Heeswijk
Location:
The Netherlands
Category:
pedagogical, economy, social
Users:
Jeanne van Heeswijk, Dennis Kaspori, the inhabitans.
Maintained by:
Kosmopolis Rotterdam, Fonds BKVB - Intendant Culturele Diversiteit, Stichting DOEN, Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling van de Europese Commissie, Pact op Zuid, Vestia, CVAH en VETRA.
Certification:
implemented
Duration:
2008 - ongoing
Jeanne van Heeswijk
-
Freehouse
Description:
After researching the character and inhabitants of the Afrikanerwijk, Jeanne van Heeswijk developed Freehouse Foundation. Freehouse is located in 3 studios: Wijkatelier, wijkkeuken (cuisine's areaÂ), wijkwinkel (shop), where locals are challenged to combine their skills with others and to create new products (food, clothes) or services in all kinds of different ways.
The inhabitants can learn more skills or improve the things that they are already working on. These new products are shown in shops and on the market. Tomorrow's Market (every Saturday and Wednesday) is the place where many of Freehouse's activities take place, and it is is an agora where you can taste feel and smell the skills we have in this area.
Goals:
To try and instigate projects that challenge people to play a more active part with respect to the space in which they live and work by bringing skills and qualities of local people together.
Beneficial Outcomes:
The sewing atelier has already received commissions from several designers to produce their clothes; the wijkkeuken has become a kind of restaurant; all the participants are earning money for their work; the market has improved its offer and services, after a struggle against municipal rules.