Conversation: Equitable Cultural Ecosystems at Horst Festival
How can cultural organisations actively contribute to more equitable ecosystems, and what does it mean to build these changes over time? On Saturday, May 16th, PAF moderates a conversation at Horst Festival exploring these urgent questions.
Alongside Aliki Loizidis (l’ÉQUIPE), speakers Emma Cogné, Jaume Mayol (TEd’A) and Pia Sirén bring perspectives rooted in architecture, curation and cultural production, fields where questions of access and representation remain deeply embedded.
Drawing from their respective practices, the conversation moves beyond gender balance as a statistic, towards the underlying conditions that shape participation: from organisational structures and working environments to networks of visibility and support.
The Rain Room at Horst Festival
The talk is part of the programme in the Rain Room, during the three-day Horst Arts & Music Festival (May 14–16, 2026). This year, the rain room embodies Horst’s identity as a living organism in constant motion. Driven by experimentation, the space celebrates complexity and the countless possibilities it brings. The power of multidisciplinary programming has always been in the patchwork!
The atmosphere shifts with the sun: afternoons offer a slow-burning energy for intimate talks within Eline Dewit’s sculptural landscape, transitioning into focused performances by Fallon Mayanja and Lisa Vereertbrugghen, before nightfall ignites the dancefloor. From the FOR ALL QUEENS! takeover to the fluid interventions of Apolemia and the communal joy of Queereeoké, the programme thrives on intentional variety.
The environment is anchored by the scenography of Spanish studio Burr. Their evolving design - characterised by vibrant yellow curtains and a ‘puddly pond’ - now serves as a foundation for the space, incorporating a new installation by Bas Smets on the flipside of the curtain.
Practical Information
The conversation is accessible to all visitors of Horst Festival. Find the full timetable for the Rain Room and the festival at hostartsandmusic.com.
Will you be joining us? We would love to hear if you’re visiting the festival and attending the talk. Let us know via mail@paf.community.
