EJN Staff Exchange Programme

Sending EJN member: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (United Kingdom)
Hosting EJN member: JazzLab/nona (Belgium)
Dates of the exchange: 26–30 November 2025

My staff exchange in Mechelen was an inspiring and valuable opportunity. I am grateful to have worked with the JazzLab team during their BRAND! Festival, which focuses on showcasing Belgian jazz artists and offered me insight into how the organisation supports and promotes the national jazz scene while strengthening international connections.

The BRAND! Festival took place across two venues in Mechelen: Nona, a contemporary performance space, and The Predikheren, a former Baroque church transformed into a cultural venue with a uniquely atmospheric setting for concerts. Observing how the festival adapted its programming and production to such different spaces was particularly insightful and demonstrated the flexibility and creativity required in festival organisation.

During my time in Mechelen, I worked closely with Simen, who was responsible for production and running the events. Shadowing him allowed me to gain hands-on experience of the day-to-day operations of the festival. This practical exposure to production work gave me a clearer understanding of how small, focused teams can successfully deliver high-quality events.

One of the highlights of the exchange was a meeting with Mik Torfs, who spoke with me in depth about JazzLab’s mission and structure. He explained how JazzLab plays a key role in connecting Belgian jazz artists with touring opportunities across the country and beyond, supporting both artistic development and international visibility. Learning more about JazzLab was particularly relevant to my own work, as it highlighted effective strategies for nurturing local talent while building sustainable touring networks.

Attending the showcases was another highlight. I discovered many Belgian jazz artists, and the diversity of styles within the scene was inspiring, reinforcing the importance of showcase festivals as platforms for discovery. The festival also brought together delegates from across Europe, giving me the opportunity to meet other professionals working in jazz and the live music sector, expand my network, and explore potential future collaborations.

I would like to thank the JazzLab team, especially Simen and Mik, for their openness and generosity. This staff exchange was a rewarding experience, and I am grateful to the Europe Jazz Network and Creative Europe for making it possible.