Korczak Festival Today 2026 I Focus: Belgium

TYA in Belgium and co-creation with young performers

The Belgian performing arts scene for young audiences is widely recognized as a space for the creation of bold, innovative and challenging works. Within this diverse field, a strong practice of co-creation processes with children and young people in a professional artistic context has developed.

These practices raise urgent and complex questions about authorship, responsibility, and power: When does co-creation actually occur? Who makes artistic decisions and at what stage? How is the perspective of the adult artist present in the work and how does it shape the voice and agency of the child or young performer?

Through artistic testimonies and sharing of practices, the meeting opens a space for reflection and exchange of experiences. The programme brings together playwrights, directors and researchers working both within and outside the Belgian context.

In addition to perspectives from Belgium, we invite you to dialogue with international practitioners who use similar methods of co-creation. The day will consist of presentations, panel discussions and round table discussions. It is a space for listening, exchange and critical reflection on what co-creation can be today — and what it requires of artists, institutions and collaborators.

Curator: Zita Epenge (President ASSITEJ Belgium)

PROGRAM

09:30 — Registration and welcome

10:00 — 11:00 — Art landscape for young audiences in Belgium | Zita Epenge and Yannick Boudeau (ASSITEJ Belgium)

11:00 — 11:30 — Historical context | Dirk De Lathauwer (artistic director of FabuleUS)

11:30 — 11:45 — Break

11:45 — 12:30 — Examples of co-creation | Koen Haagdorens (playwright, hetpaleis), Ilyas Mettioui (director Hofstade), Annika Serong (researcher)

12:30 — 13:30 — Networking lunch

13:30 — 14:15 — Panel discussion | Dorota Kowalkowska (artistic director of the KORCZAK TODAY Festival)

14:15 — 15:00 — Working at the tables (in groups)

Registration: Registration is valid through the form, which is located on the website https://korczak-festival.pl/focus-belgia/ and will be available until September 30, 2026. The number of places is limited.