MECHELEN (Brussels Morning Newspaper): The social and cultural centre mARTa, with the support of Councillor Björn Schipper, is transforming Mechelen’s Sacred Heart Church to provide space for local artists and community events.
A new social and cultural centre, ‘mARTa’, is being built in the old Sacred Heart Church on Adegemstraat in Mechelen. A significant moment took place on the evening of Friday 20 September when the first stone was laid, marking the beginning of the church’s transformation into a community hub. Renovations will begin next week to reuse the church while preserving its original architecture. The centre will host a range of cultural activities and events, providing a space for artistic expression and community gatherings.
What benefits will the new mARTa cultural centre bring to Mechelen?
The ‘mARTa’ location is special because it mixes old history with new culture. Reusing the Sacred Heart Church helps breathe new life into the building, connecting the community to its past while encouraging creativity and social activity. Building ‘mARTa’ is part of a larger plan to improve cultural sites in Mechelen, and locating it in such a prominent location shows that the city is interested in preserving its historic sites and making them useful for the present.
Alderman for Culture Biörn Siffer announced the opening of ‘mARTa’ in Mechelen as a new venue for amateur artists. He said that although the city has many cultural centers for professional artists, there is not enough support for local artists and amateur groups. These groups often have difficulty finding good spaces to practice and perform, and ‘mARTa’ is intended to help with this.
According to Alderman for Culture Biörn Siffer, this project shows that Mechelen wants to help local artists by giving them a place to create and show their work. The cultural center ‘mARTa’ will help local talent grow by providing a space where they can practice, work together and perform. By addressing the lack of places for non-professional artists, ‘mARTa’ will become an important part of the city, supporting amateur art and making culture more welcoming to everyone.
