Pianofabriek Community Centre
A non-profit organisation
Pianofabriek is a cohousing project: it is a community center, citylab super-diversity, Kunstenwerkplaats and training center at the same time.
The intersectoral and interdisciplinary work of one organization is the result of responding to current social needs and opportunities and is translated into a joint mission.
Each sub-operation appeals to the general operation of the center for administration, financial management, reception and logistics. They donate part of their budget for this. Each sub-function has its own personnel and resources and is led by a coordinator, assisted by a steering group. Sufficient interaction and interaction is possible through structured consultation. There are a number of shared moments and instruments: open days, seasonal brochure, website… But especially in our day-to-day operations, we consult formally and informally. The fact that the various infrastructural and organizational activities are under one roof provides added value in terms of the efficient use of government resources, but also in terms of the intrinsic quality of the various activities.
This government variation on the concept of timesharing (and space sharing) makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. A shared logistics team ensures an almost 100% return on infrastructure at a low cost. Reception, catering, communication and organizational costs (eg secretariat, insurance) are relatively cheaper due to the increase in scale. The organization scores better in terms of quality and professionalism (hrm, technology, auditing…). Due to this relatively small overhead cost, a larger portion of the resources goes directly to the artists and their projects.
Pianofabriek is an open center: 20 different nationalities were counted during the public survey. The average age is 29 years, 10% of our audience comes from outside Brussels or the province of Flemish Brabant and 50% comes from the immediate vicinity. People come to Pianofabriek for literacy lessons, dance courses, studio recordings, rehearsals, workshops, concerts, performances and lectures…. Pianofabriek is a house with many audiences and activities, which has an inspiring and liberating effect and gives rise to crossovers, multidisciplinary and social-artistic projects.
The exchange takes place bottom up: on the initiative of the sub-actions and their public itself. There is no question of any kind of substantive or structural osmosis, there is the possibility to collaborate on a specific project, to be inspired or to involve others, resulting in innovation and broadening (“bonding and bridging”).
Pianofabriek is a house of the Flemish Community Commission (VGC), led by a non-profit organization and supported by a staff of about 30 employees with about 300 visitors per day.