Presentation of the association:
It has been a long time since Couleur Café piled up its souks, restaurants, and musicians in the covered market of Schaerbeek, in Brussels, that now became a European cultural centre. In 1990, first edition of Couleur Café, the idea was to have a mixed-raced and friendly festival: something that would not be big and gloomy; something like the multi-coloured social fabric of Brussels. The programme back then was mainly with African and Afro-Cuban music. It has known its first success with 5,300 visitors.
Couleur Café already had the perfect ingredients: souks, decoration, restaurants, craftsmen, fanfares… even if it was way more modest, of course. With the success, the festival became bigger, moved, took on new music and became interested in urban music. Couleur Café wants the programme to be eclectic, welcomes discoveries and Belgian music, even if its black roots are still as important. Over the years, the festive side of the festival and the multidisciplinary dimension were strengthened, with for example the Cool Art Café exhibition (with fine art) and the increase of extra-musical activities: dance lessons, free-style shows, NGO’s invitation in the Solidarity Village…
At Tour & Taxis since 1994, a wonderful industrial location in the heart of Brussels, Couleur Café is not only a world music festival anymore but a festival with all urban music. With more than 50 concerts in three days, Couleur Café offers three stages with lots of different music: r&b, hip-hop, funk, afro, reggae, raga, dub, dancehall, latin, salsa, blues and rock. There are also spaces for electronic music with that same desire of melting-pot.
Although Couleur Café gathers more than 75,000 visitors, including 3,000 campers, it keeps a human face. It is managed self-sufficiently by Zig Zag, a non-profit-making organization. The festival became a must-see Belgian musical event that still encourages the fun and friendliness 24 years after its creation.
The Project:
Dates: From 30th of June until the 2nd of July 2017.
Type: Music Festival
Max volunteers: 10 volunteers.
Regarding the volunteer work:
During the day (you can work during the morning or the afternoon): distribution of documents to explain to the residents around Tour & Taxis about the event.
Accommodation and Food:
The volunteer should bring his own tent.