11 & 12 October · Reset, Brussels
For its first edition, Abrupt will open a space for reflection and encounters at the heart of its festival with Abrupt Lab.
Powered by the discourse program platform, European Lab, the forum will take over Reset for 2 days of exchanges, with a variety of formats: radio broadcasting round tables and workshops.
In a world and Europe in disarray, Abrupt Lab will question the role of artists and players from the independent cultural sector before today’s socio-political turbulence.
Abrupt Lab
From Ukraine to Gaza, passing through Georgia, Abrupt Lab will tune in to territories in resistance advocating for their rights, freedom and sovereignty. Musicians, thinkers, activists: through the perspective and voices of these individuals, Abrupt Lab aims to explore current political and geopolitical issues. What role does sound play in a context of war or police violence? How can club culture and the independent cultural sector embody spaces of freedom in countries where they are perceived as “foreign agents”? How can these cultural ecosystems play a role in bridging the territorial and social divides that are widening across Europe? On October 11 and 12, Abrupt Lab will bring together artists and a variety of independent cultural structures to address these questions.
Abrupt Lab will also serve as a professional meeting and networking space for the music scene and the independent cultural sector, through Reset! and TIMES, two projects powered by the Arty Farty ecosystem. TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes) is a collaborative project bringing together 10 European festivals to create original works combining contemporary music and visual arts. The European network Reset! gathers over a hundred independent cultural and media structures from across Europe. During Abrupt, the network will further its live podcast format, initiated last March in Brussels, which aims to document the state of the European independent cultural scenes. By hosting these two projects, Abrupt Lab wishes to highlight the need to build connections and reach beyond our bubbles to address the challenges of our time.
Programme
11:00 —13:00
Workshop · Politics of Curatorship: Ethics and Best Practices
The challenges related to cultural programming are exacerbated today: gender criteria, representation of different communities, diversity within programming teams… How can contemporary issues be addressed in artistic curatorial practices? What happens when programming practices are seen as plural and multivocal? How can an event be opened to a diversity of voices and narratives? How can we address the imbalances of representation present within the contemporary music landscape? Far from a depoliticized vision of curatorial practices, this workshop aims to examine the role of those in charge of such curatorial missions within cultural organizations, offering tools and insights for a curatorial policy rooted in its time.The challenges related to cultural programming are exacerbated today: gender criteria, representation of different communities, diversity within programming teams… How can contemporary issues be addressed in artistic curatorial practices? What happens when programming practices are seen as plural and multivocal? How can an event be opened to a diversity of voices and narratives? How can we address the imbalances of representation present within the contemporary music landscape? Far from a depoliticized vision of programming, this workshop aims to examine the role of those in charge of such curatorial missions within cultural organizations, offering tools and insights for a curatorial policy rooted in its time.
Host: TBA.
14:00 – 18:00
Radio Lab with Microwave
The Belgian webradio Microwave will take over for 4 hours of programming: radio interviews, talks, listening sessions and of course, music!
Speakers TBA.
18:30-19:30
Talk • Club culture and the Independent Cultural Sector: ‘Foreign Agents’?
Since the adoption of a law last May, Georgian NGOs receiving at least 20% of their funding from foreign sources are required to register under the label of “foreign agent.” This decision, inspired by Russia—where a similar law has been in effect since 2012—threatens the survival of many independent media, cultural associations, and civil society organisations. In such a context, how can these structures continue to operate and carry out their activities? During the protests against this law, clubs, festivals, and collectives from Tbilisi’s electronic music scene mobilised and took a stand against this legislation. In response to this law, which “alters the European trajectory of (their) country and (brings them) back into the Russian sphere of influence,” this independent cultural sector advocates for unity and solidarity among these organisations. This solidarity has also been expressed for over two years with their peers in Ukraine, where the electronic scene and independent cultural ecosystems play a crucial role in the current struggle against Russian imperialism.
With:
Mariana Berezovska (Standard Deviation | Germany), Liza Bezvershenko (Promote Ukraine | Ukraine), Kristina Pitalskaya (Promote Georgia | Georgia)
Moderation : Nino Davadze (Mutant Radio | Georgia)
10:00 —13:00
Workshop with Resident Advisor · How to Run an Independent Record Label?
In a competitive music industry, the idea of creating and managing an independent record label captivates many artists, entrepreneurs, and music enthusiasts. The workshop curated with the media Resident Advisor Workshop “How to Run an Independent Record Label” offers a dynamic and educational space for learning the essentials. This workshop is tailored for those who want to understand the inner workings of the music business while maintaining a DIY ethos and an authentic artistic vision. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of the challenges and rewards of running an independent record label, as well as the confidence to take their first steps in the music industry.
Moderator TBA.
14:00 – 18:00
Radio Lab with LYL Radio
European webradio LYL Radio takes over for 4 hours of programming: radio interviews, talks, listening sessions and of course, music!
Speakers TBA.
18:30 – 19:30
Talk • Sound as a Weapon and Tool of Control
In police and military applications, sonic weapons, which combine technology and acoustics, are designed to neutralize or control without resorting to lethal force. These devices use high-frequency sound waves to disorient, disperse crowds, torture, or immobilize targets, and are claimed to cause no permanent damage. Beyond their use by many countries, particularly in the United States, sound has become a tool of control. What are the implications of conflicts over sound space and the use of sound, from military to marketing and technology? Presented as non-lethal alternatives, these sound bombd, LRAD (Long-range Acoustic Device), Mosquito, and other acoustic weapons raise ethical and political questions and more broadly, the issue of massive technologization in armed conflicts. As tools of control, they embody the tension between maintaining order and respecting human rights during protests, and also in a more subtle way in everyday urban spaces.
Speakers TBA.
Modération : Nina Davadze (Mutant Radio I Georgia)
