RECAP - Fin De Saison

“How I discovered that De Grid was much more than just a library”

by Hannah Habimana

“If someone had told me about De Grid when I was 14, I would be a totally different person today.” This was my thought as I danced in front of the art books. Who knew a library could be this fun and almost enlightening? I attended the ‘Fin de Saison’ event at De Grid, and here's how it went.

I saw a few friends posting about it on social media. Initially, I thought it was another cool event I wouldn't have the courage to explore because I didn't consider myself a “creative” or an artist. Little did I know, this event was perfect for people like me who appreciate art, enjoy creativity, and have big dreams but don't really know where to start, or simply dream of exploring that part of themselves. It took me a whole week to sign up, but I finally gathered all my courage and went.

I was so excited that I arrived first. I had the honor of being welcomed by De Grid staff, who almost made me feel like part of their team. I saw other young people outside, nervously waiting for someone to enter first. It seemed like I wasn't the only one feeling a bit anxious. Quicker than expected, I was surrounded by a group of strangers smiling quietly and sipping on their free drinks. As a Belgian student studying in Rotterdam, I'm used to diverse crowds, but this crowd was diverse in ideologies, experiences, and intentions, yet shared one common trait: a hunger for a creative community, whatever that means.

The Happy Hour Tour

Then came the Happy Hour Tour, which was my favorite part. We were about 15 guests, and the community builder, Ornella Somanza, was a real ray of sunshine. She explained the purpose of the 5th floor of Muntpunt: De Grid. I understood that it is not a place exclusively for professionals; it is a place for curiosity and creativity. Literally, any form of art you can think of can be explored there. It almost felt too good to be true — access to any book, a medialab, an art atelier, a whole co-working space, all for free.

The Medialab

We started the tour strong by entering the medialab. It looked cool but was quite intimidating. The guide explained how you can book any laptop you want (MacPro, Alienware Aurora, or iPad) on De Grid's website for free. We all looked at each other, and everyone seemed deep in thought. So was I. I was thinking, “I have a laptop at home, how could I benefit from this?”

It was like the guide read my mind. She immediately responded by confirming that these devices contain all the software you can think of for photo and audiovisual work, coding, gaming, and even graphic design. I had always wanted to purchase Adobe Creative Cloud but was afraid to waste money on a hobby I didn't know how to use. Suddenly, the awkwardness in the crowd started to disappear. Medialab users can follow online tutorials surrounded by a communal space where others might share their knowledge.

The Atelier

The tour continued with an exploration of the atelier. I believe that's where the magic happens. The atelier is more of an inspiration space for the brain. Its large table provides room for brainstorming, especially for writing, drawing, and cutting pieces. It seems like a place for manual art amateurs. Although I was personally attracted to it, I have to say it opened my mind to new possibilities. “What if I just go there to draw with a few friends? We could have a painting session there; my student room is too small anyway,” I heard a girl behind me say.

De Grid Studio

As I got lost in a design book, I heard that a content studio will even be available starting in October. Though I immediately stopped reading and got excited at this announcement, I still needed to confirm whether it was free. So, a warning: De Grid is a place where you will find whatever you seek. I encourage you not to be like me and hesitate to ask questions. Ask about the software you've been wanting to use, the idea you never put into execution, or the thing you've never tried but wanted to — they will help you. On the other hand, if you are like me, still uncertain about what to ask, being in this kind of sphere with other creatives could help you explore yourself.

The Collective Talk

After the tour, we jumped into the most relatable panel sessions I have ever attended: The Collective Talk. The panel session moderated by the effortlessly funny Sarah Bekambo brought together three collectives based in Brussels that had nothing in common except a hunger for a creative community. The only difference is that they took a leap of faith to explore different approaches to build their collectives and we had not (yet). It was reassuring to see tangible evidence that we all start from somewhere, from a tiny idea. It doesn't have to be fully developed; you get to know your project along the way. It's okay if you don't have a large concept map of it.

Vibes with Gucc Imane

After this insightful and frank conversation, the night continued between books and with DJ Gucc Imane. I had to try really hard not to dance too much and to share my excitement for all the things I wanted to try, especially now that I realized, like Skin Mutts, Unbthrd, and Jeunes Boss, that I was not alone. De Grid is right there, waiting for me to navigate my creative self. For any unsure creatives, this is your sign to just go. It may be a bit awkward because everybody is a bit awkward, especially when surrounded by people you genuinely feel inspired by. Yes, you might not make a lot of friends the first time you go (like me), but it's worth going again. At least you can be sure De Grid will welcome you with open arms, so that is already one friend!

De GG’s (De Grid G’s)

Just when I thought it couldn't get better, we received a QR code to join De GGs. I'm not a fan of WhatsApp groups, to be honest — no need for extra notifications, I thought. Until they explained the meaning of it: Guidance, Gatherings, and Gigs.

I was so relieved to know that not only do I get to choose which group I want to be a part of (so fewer notifications), but also all the people I was too intimidated or afraid to talk to that day, I can find in that group chat. How nice to know that my uncertainty about how to navigate my project, my shyness in approaching other creatives, or my fear of trying new career orientations would not be a problem for me to achieve my dreams.

Here I am today, this is my first gig. This blog post is the perfect example of what happens when you join De GG's! I am honored to be delivering my first creative piece as a communication student who embraces writing but did not know where to start and how: De Grid really just let me explore with all the freedom I need. Honestly, I think De Grid functions with this and even embraces every inch of the self-curiosity of the youth of Brussels.

Since we're talking honestly, I wish I could have talked a bit more to other guests to understand who they were, where they are at in their self-discovering journey - you could see everybody wanted to talk to everybody. Potentially, a point of improvement for the next ‘fin de saison’ – where we celebrate the communities built within the year in Brussels: conversation facilitation would be the extra cherry on this beautiful cake of opportunities.

In conclusion, I can say that the ‘Fin De Saison’ was a blast. For a first time attending an event full of creatives and being celebrated for not knowing exactly how to explore my creativity, “awesome” is pretty close to how I felt.

My advice for anyone interested in De Grid would be to leave your expectations of a typical library at the door and be ready to enter an airport of exploration. The ‘Fin De Saison’ is an event where you drink inspiration, embrace creativity, and dance between the bookshelves. I can say it was one of the best parties I've been to.

I know this all feels a bit crazy and almost unreal! I invite you to check out the recap on my Instagram @habimanahannah or my TikTok @bbybananana. If you are a creative person who wants to connect you know where to find me! Thanks to De Grid for this opportunity.

By Hannah Habimana