15. Luc Mishalle
My political interest and engagement started many years ago. So long ago that I can't even say exactly when. As an artist, my main interest lies in cultural policy, both at the local and the metropolitan level. In Anderlecht, I have been active in that field for years, first as a member and now as the chairman of the cultural council.
As a musician, I have a good contact with former deputy and member of parliament Elke Roex in Anderlecht. We both play the saxophone. Gradually, under her encouragement, I got involved in setting up projects in Anderlecht. For instance, I was a driving force behind the big music happening for 1000 years of St Guido, the Cosmogolem project around Koen Van Mechelen and the founding of a local music ensemble.
So, while my commitment is most visible in the field of culture, growth opportunities are also high on the agenda. Recently, I took up a new and very important commitment as a CPAS councillor in Anderlecht.
My background
I was born and raised in Antwerp, and studied there at the former Ufsia and UIA (today Antwerp University) where I graduated with a law degree. I was very active in student work groups, especially as an advocate for culture, and I also played and studied music intensively.
After my studies, I worked for several years in England as manager/musical director of a large theatre ensemble. Back in Belgium, I built a career with international theatres and founded MetX. With it, I produced a number of innovative and community-building music productions. First from Antwerp, then from French-speaking Brabant and now since more than 20 years from Brussels. At policy level, I was active as chairman in the music committee of the Flemish Community.
Brussels as an international pioneer
My dream is that Brussels can continue to play its international pioneering role in the field of the arts, investing further in community building. The Brussels Region must remain a beacon of positivism, of a close-knit community in all its diversity.