The Collective
The Collectif Cobalt was formed at the intersection of art, journalism and the human and social sciences, and focusing particularly on topics related sustainability, human rights, resource exploitation and international cooperation.
Explore intersections
In a world where relations of domination are accentuating, resources are dwindling, relationships are hardening, issues are becoming more complex, and yet interdependence is increasing, we advocate cultural mediation for the emergence of new forms of cooperation and co-construct a more just and peaceful society.
We use the power of storytelling and art to question our representations and make the complex issues of our society more accessible, and we (co-)create and adapt (cultural) mediation approaches to change perspective, nurture dialogue and awaken our individual and collective creativity to meet today’s economic and environmental challenges.
The team
Brieuc
Author and photographer, Brieuc has developed his documentary and artistic approach alongside his career as a social impact management expert in the DRC and other African countries. In his work, he seeks to question stereotypical representations and highlight initiatives that place people and nature at the heart of their approach. In République Démocratique du Cobalt, a documentary and photographic account presented as an exhibition and conference, he plunges the reader into the heart of mining issues and their paradoxes. Today, he is exploring other artistic avenues, such as theater, to awaken a sense of global citizenship and stimulate the power to act.
Farah
Seduced by slam, by the place it gives to vulnerability and honesty, Farah finds in it an unsuspected therapy, and finds her place both on stage and behind the scenes, as a scriptwriter. A lover of words and singularly told stories, her texts are introspective but tackle universal themes such as self-love, motherhood and fear. By recounting discomfort, awkwardness and joy, she sets out to discover her own identity and invites anyone who will listen to join her on her journey.
Frédéric
Frédéric Lubansu is an artist and Afro-Congolese citizen of Belgian-Congolese origin. A professional actor and director with a diploma from the I.N.S.A.S., he is entering the 25th year of a busy career (cinema, theater, television) that has focused on issues of diversity in the media. At the same time, driven by the desire to make art accessible to all, he is committed to cultural mediation. For several years now, he has been teaching Cultural Rights at four FWB higher education institutions (HELB/ISFSC/IHECS/HEFF), and is co-founder of the Afropean Project and Community Of Art associations, which respectively consciously and (co)constructively question African/European (r)apports by highlighting the contribution of Nos Me(s)tissages, and offer support to artists and to inclusive, participatory civic expression.
Bernadette
Congolese visual journalist and film-maker from Goma (DRC), Bernadette works on issues of human rights, the environment and the exploitation of raw materials, and is particularly interested in subjects that bear witness to the resilience of the population of this region affected by numerous conflicts. Through her work, she highlights the energy of ordinary citizens to build a new Congo, while denouncing the brakes on development. She is keen to show this reality as it is perceived by the Congolese, according to their symbols, traditions and cultural references.
Our mission
- Encouraging mutual sharing of know-how and interpersonal skills.
- Explore how our individualities complement each other.
- Become aware of our ability to influence the world, and strengthen our sense of global citizenship.
- Help understand the world and our interdependencies.
- Promote reflection and dialogue to make the digital and energy transition sustainable and fair for all.
- Build bridges between all stakeholders to co-construct tomorrow’s society.
Our history
The Collectif Cobalt is at the crossroads of art, journalism and the social and human sciences, focusing particularly on topics related to sustainability, human rights, resource exploitation and international cooperation.
Artists, journalists and experts from different disciplines, we have pooled our know-how, affinities and desire to act around the “Cobalt” social experiment in 2023. From one experiment to the next, we have woven our web between Brussels and Lubumbashi and developed many links around our projects.
Our work has been developed with the Afropean Project association whose aim is to question the place of Afropeans in society and the relationship between Africa and Europe in economic, political, social, educational and cultural terms.
Our areas of interest
Human rights and cultural rights
With reference to Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, our commitment is to guarantee cultural rights, so that culture is accessible to all and is created by all for all.
Analysis of views and representations
Where do we talk from? How do we see the world around us as interconnections grow stronger? We’re interested in the origins of our view of ourselves, others and the world, and our ability to deconstruct it.
Managing the social impacts of the mining sector
The world’s digital and energy needs are driving an increase in mining, with significant social and environmental repercussions. To mitigate them, we seek to understand them and to get each stakeholder to take his or her share of responsibility.
Global citizenship education
In an interdependent world, awareness of our role as global citizens determines our ability to cooperate and curb our predatory reflexes.
Responsible supply chains
We are interested in traceability issues and the due diligence to mitigate the social and environmental impacts of the production and processing of goods and materials throughout our supply chains.
Our other achievements
Show
“Du Blanc Au Noir
“This show is an open invitation to collective disalienation, with a view to (re) or (de)constructing a society that is more respectful of its humanity. humanity.”.
Film
“Stop Filming Us But Listen”
This documentary takes a closer look at the imbalance of power inherited from colonialism and its consequences on the current representation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Book “Democratic Republic of Cobalt
Through the story and images of a community’s resettlement, the reader plunges into the heart of the Congolese mining world and the paradoxes of globalization and development in the face of the social and environmental challenges of our time.
