What is the arts database?
What is the arts database, and what can you find in it?
What is professionalism?
In the arts database, we want you to be able to find all professional artists in Flanders. All kinds of artists too. But especially those who dare to speak out loud.
“Yes, I am a professional artist.”
Whether you do it full time, or occasionally. Wether you can make a living from it or not, went to school for it or not. And as a musician or dancer, theatre-maker or visual artist; doesn’t matter, as long as you and people around you think you are doing it professionally. Reach out to us and be found in the art database of Flanders.
When do you become a professional artist?
You choose that yourself, not us. Doesn’t matter if you already made income from it, or who already knows or has seen your work. The important thing is that you feel like an artist and show it that way.
Why should you be part of our art database?
Because you become findable. Because you leave a mark in the arts world. Because you want to share your work with others. You choose what you want to share – your name, your specialisation, your contact details, your portfolio … This way, Flanders gets an overview of all professional artists. From past and present.
Do you feel like a professional artist? Reach out to us
What does being a professional artist mean to you? Artists from our database do the talking.
“I was constantly flirting with the boundary of designer and artist. Which made me afraid to put two stamps on myself. But I now know: you can perfectly be them at the same time.” – Bogenna Ivana, objects and space designer, social media manager & content creator
“You may firmly say, ‘I am an artist’. Because it has nothing to do with your attention on social media or in the press. It does have to do with an attitude, your demeanour. You are an artist because you create things.” – Hans Op De Beeck, visual artist
“Fire. An artist carries passion and fire for the craft. Only then do you continue to wonder. Discover new things. And above all: keep being creative. Because for creativity, you need that fire.” – Annelies Van Parys, composer
“I spent my days in a fragmented way. As a scenographer, theatre-maker and editor-in-chief. It is no longer – day in, day out – art. And yet I feel like a full-fledged artist.” – Berten Vandenbruggen, playwright, illustrator and creative editor
“I never got my degree as a photographer. As a result, I had to constantly reinvent myself as an artist at the beginning of my career. Challenging, but because of all that hard work, today I can devote full time to my studio.” – Maria Blondeel, visual artist and photographer
“Is being an artist a profession? I don’t know. But by not naming it as work, where do you stand?” – Lieve De Sadeleer, musician, live electronics performer
“A lot of people are super talented. But it is sometimes difficult for them to come out with their art. But they too are artists, they just need a push sometimes.” – Adel Setta, photographer and creative director
“Whether you are a professional artist is not determined by success. Because that’s where it starts: what is success? I am no less an artist than the happy few who can make a living from it.” – Dahlia Pessemiers-Benamar, theatre maker and actress
“I play music alongside my full-time job, which is not artistic. But I find: whether I am a freelancer or a professional musician, I am an artist.” – Adil Behnsain, musician
“Being an artist. For me, it means having the freedom to fill your days by yourself. And that most of the days you think: this is fine. This is who I am.” – Berten Vandenbruggen, theatre maker, illustrator and creative editor
