Open door on September 23

There is no age limit to creativity. The urge to create music, to paint, write, sculpt, act or philosophize does not disappear once you start suffering from age-related ailments or simply have lost your decisive stride. Nevertheless, with age it often becomes a lot more difficult to remain the artist you have always been. This is usually not because your inspiration or talent disappears, but because of the place where you live. Either it is not adapted to your physical condition, or it is not adapted to your artistry. We believe it is possible to have both.

Along the river Lys in the village of Baarle, which is part of the Ghent district of Drongen, a living and working place is being built for creative minds who can no longer or do not want to live alone at home, but who still make art. The Kurt Defrancq Huis is open to older artists who think it is time for an adapted home, where they can also get some help if needed.

You can live there in one of the sixty recognized assisted flats next to the Leiehome residential care center. You can become a resident as a couple, together with your partner, or alone. The wheelchair-accessible flats with living room, kitchen, bathroom and one or two bedrooms all have a terrace. Residents can enjoy complete privacy, but can still use both the common areas and the garage. Obviously, there is an emergency call system available and you can always rely on a residential assistant if necessary. Many artists and creative people will live in the brand new building, but other elderly people can also stay there.

You can work and be creative wherever you want. In your own flat, in one of the communal areas, on a bench in the garden, but also across the street where artist studios are being set up in the former library. A little further on, the church and the presbytery of Baarle are also being adapted so that residents and younger artists will soon have even more space to be creative, show their work or admire the creations of others. Exhibitions, lectures, workshops and concerts can be organized that are not only open to the residents of the assisted flats but also to art lovers in the region.

We are organizing an open day on Saturday, September 23 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., during which you can visit the assisted living flats and a number of artist studios. Pre-registration is required and can be done via the contact form here.