Flagey financial difficulties averted for now

A funding crisis facing the Flagey cultural centre in Ixelles has been temporarily averted now that an agreement is in the works, according to its chair, Julie de Groote.

The previous lack of a new management agreement, and therefore the associated subsidies, meant the Flagey cultural centre was in danger of running out of financial reserves in April, Bruzz reports.

Director Gilles Ledure sent an urgent letter to the board members of the cultural centre on 30 January, pointing out that no new management agreement had yet been concluded with the relevant authorities and, as a result, no subsidies had been received since the start of the new year.

Had funds dried up by April, the centre could have been forced to cease its activities.

“Every year, Flagey programmes more than 200 concerts and more than 1,000 films, with an occupancy rate of 93%,” said De Groote, who described the cultural centre as a "unique collaboration" between various authorities and policy levels.

The centre’s current funding model was created in 2007. The Flemish Community, the French Community and the Brussels region each contribute €920,000 annually to the cultural centre. The municipality of Ixelles is also involved, with an annual subsidy of €200,000.

Normally, the management agreement is renewed every five years. But since 2021, the agreement has been extended on an annual basis due to a refusal to include candidates from Vlaams Belang on the board of directors.

De Groote said she was pleased to report that the crisis seems to have been averted for 2026.

“The past two weeks have been all hands on deck, but thanks to the efforts of all parties involved, we are hopeful that we can reach a renewed agreement,” said De Groote.

The French Community officially approved a draft proposal from the Flemish Community for a one-year extension last week. However, the Flemish government still has to give its formal approval, which is expected to be finalised in early March.

The Brussels government and the municipality of Ixelles also still have to give their official approval, but Groote expressed optimism.

De Groote also wants to work on amending the articles of association by the end of summer. Among other things, the French and Flemish communities have different views on representation on the board of directors.

“We want to eliminate those differences,” De Groote said, noting that the revision will ideally result in a new five-year management agreement.

In the meantime, legal proceedings are still ongoing ever since Vlaams Belang filed a summons regarding the composition of the board of directors at the end of December.

De Standaard reports that current Flemish culture minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) is working on "a negotiated solution, rather than a solution through the courts".