3 X STORIES: Youth and mental health
Youth people face rising pressures and isolation. Creative and cultural programmes offer safe spaces to express themselves, connect, and build resilience.
Story 1_The role of safer spaces in promoting vulnerability
Tania Nyanguile (Vulnera, Leuven, Belgium)
Psychologist Tania Nyanguile hosts conversations with young people whose voices are too often unheard. What began as a podcast aimed at breaking taboos has grown into a platform that promotes representation, diversity, vulnerability, and meaningful connections.
Story 2_Co-creating connection: a shared space between care & culture
Grietje D’Hollander (Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, Belgium)
This project brings together the open-air Middelheim Museum and a nearby hospital to create a shared space where art and nature support the mental and emotional wellbeing of young patients. By bridging culture and care, the project reimagines the museum as an active partner in healing, fostering inclusion, connection, and recovery through cross-sector collaboration.
Story 3_VUURWERK: a warm festival of rediscovery.
An Pauwels, Griet Dobbelaere (De Grote Post, Oostende, Belgium), Eva De Rycke (Ensor Institute) and Kenneth Michiels.
VUURWERK is a warm winter festival by De Grote Post that brings artists and social partners together in co-creative projects rooted in the city of Oostende. In 2025, filmmaker Kenneth Michiels collaborated with students from Ensor instituut on PROXY, a documentary of cinematic self-portraits exploring light and darkness within themselves. Through intimate dialogue and artistic exchange, the project empowered young people, challenged stereotypes, and fostered collective care and resilience.
Filmmaker Kenneth Michiels will be present with the students:
Julie Léonard, Wynona Vynck, Amélie Zutterman, Riana Van Der Auwera, Kervy Vanhaelewyn and Ruben Van Herck. Together with Marlies Demey (coordinator of the art department of the Ensor Institute).
Meet the speakers of these stories
Tania Nyanguile
Tania Nyanguile is a clinical psychologist. In addition to her professional practice, she actively works to bring taboo topics and relevant issues into open and vulnerable conversation. She does this through her podcast, "Vulnera".
Grietje D’Hollander
Grietje D’Hollander is a cultural practitioner working at the intersection of art, care, nature, and public space. She works in Public Engagement at the Middelheim Museum in Antwerp, where she develops and fosters co-creative practices that connect art, nature, heritage, and wellbeing.
An Pauwels
An Pauwels is a community builder at De Grote Post and curator for FAAR. She co-creates VUURWERK, focusing on participatory work with young people and local communities, grounded in care, trust, and inclusive collaboration.
Griet Dobbelaere
Griet Dobbelaere is a community builder at De Grote Post in Ostend and works at the intersection of art, participation, and education. She co-creates VUURWERK, a winter festival centered on light, darkness, encounter, and collective imagination.
Eva De Rycke
Eva De Rycke is Coordinator of Art at the Ensor Institute and teaches Manual Studio in the Decor, Window Display & Advertising programme. As an art teacher, she is passionate about sharing her talent while creating an open, safe environment where young people’s personal expression comes first.
Kenneth Michiels
Kenneth Michiels is a filmmaker and creative producer at Moose & Tash. Working across documentary, participatory, and artistic film, he collaborates with youth on stories of identity and imagination. A Film graduate of KASK Gent, he received the VAF Wildcard for his graduation film.
