Franky

This is our general coordinator Franky Devos! He has been at the head "or the feet" of Arts Centre VIERNULVIER for six years.

"When I applied here, I didn't think I would be considered for the job. I had been general director of Kortrijk arts centre BUDA for 10 years at the time, but De Vooruit is of a wonderfully different calibre - such a big house!"

"The most challenging thing about my job? Making sure we stay relevant. What should VIERNULVIER be in five or 10 years' time? How can we respond to what is happening in the city - and by extension, the world? How do we ensure that as many people as possible feel welcome here? This is not always obvious, but we are always looking for it. Take Music Club Winter Circus, which we are going to operate together with Democrazy: that is the first Belgian concert hall with an immersive sound system - which is relevant on a technological level."

Although Franky is at the helm of VIERNULVIER, he abhors words like "boss" and "leader".

"I am not someone who goes out in front with a flag and wants everyone to follow me. I walk at the back and see what should and can be done - in a boat, the rudder is also at the back. That fits perfectly with our horizontal organisational structure: our operation is transparent and everyone can sit around the table with me. I have to ensure that the VIERNULVIER crew can use his/her/their capacities to the maximum, that everything is kept together and that we get the noses in the same direction."

His favourite VIERNULVIER moments: when all the halls of De Vooruit are packed.

"For example, I remember an evening when Peaches performed her crazy 'Smells Like Peaches' show in front of a full Theaterzaal, the African Ball in the Concertzaal was sold out and at the same time a party was going on in the Balzaal. When I go from venue to venue on a night like that, I proudly think: what a blissful place this is! Because that is exactly what VIERNULVIER continuously strives for: we want to be a connecting place where different communities come together!"

To conclude, Franky gives his favourite place in De Vooruit.

"The Theatre Hall: both the hall itself and the performances shown there are of a crushing beauty. I have a WhatsApp group with friends and acquaintances in which I send monthly must sees at VIERNULVIER. The artistic aspect of my job still gives me the most energy."