Bridge Stories started in the cold winter of 2022 when people were sleeping on the bridge in front of Klein Kasteeltje / Petit-Château, waiting to ask for asylum. Next to the many solidarity actions of the neighbours providing food and shelter, Cinemaximiliaan felt the need to invite people for artistic expression, as art has the power to give them their name back.

The project unfolds in four phases: engagement with participants to portray the stories of migration, creative workshops led by professional artists to develop literary texts, visuals, and audio, together with the artist company Needcompany to transform these materials into a live intercultural storytelling performance.

This participatory project showcases the transformative power of art and gives a stage to their stories through text, performance, video and music. Bridge Stories - a sense of belonging is a way to ‘bridge’ the gap and nurture connections between newcomers and locals.