Kanal Generations
Are you aged between 16 and 24 and do you live in Brussels? Whether you're passionate about art or have never set foot in a museum, Kanal Generations invites you to discover what goes on behind the scenes, develop your ideas and take part in a collective project. Kanal Generations brings together 12 young people from Brussels for a year of creativity, training and social engagement within a new museum. Applications are open until 10 July 2026.
Throughout the programme, you'll develop practical knowledge of art and cultural institutions, learn how culture can influence society, and put this experience into practice by helping to organise a public event at the end of the year with the museum team.
About the programme
Kanal Generations is a paid training programme for young people in Brussels who want to transform culture in Belgium and around the world.
Each edition explores a specific theme through a training programme that runs throughout the academic year. Participants gain practical experience in the cultural sector and benefit from the guidance of professionals who support them in shaping their career paths. The first edition of the programme runs from September 2026 to June 2027. Throughout the year, participants will explore: The major debates shaping modern and contemporary art today The roles and realities of cultural institutions and professions Socially engaged practices in Brussels The development and collective organisation of a final event
Through meetings with artists and professionals, the programme is structured around various workshops, seminars, discussions and visits to cultural venues in Brussels. Applications for the 2026–2027 edition of Kanal Generations are open from 5 June to 10 July 2026 at 23:55 (Brussels time).
For any questions regarding the programme or the application, please contact the youth engagement team, at edu@kanal.brussels
Theme 2026–2027: travelling through time For this first edition, Kanal Generations participants will explore the links between the past, present and future, and what these reveal about today's culture. The programme begins with simple yet essential questions: what does it mean to be 'contemporary'? How do we find our place in a world that is constantly changing? And how does what came before us shape what we do today? Through various cultural narratives, we will examine the origins of the ideas that shape our view of the world, and what we, in turn, wish to pass on or leave behind.
It is in this spirit that participants imagine possible futures: ranging from bold ideas to concrete projects capable of transforming the Brussels cultural scene.
The programme takes place on Wednesdays from 16:00 to 18:00, from September to June, excluding holidays and public holidays. This comprises 25 sessions held at Kanal and various cultural venues in Brussels. Optional sessions, either one-to-one or in small groups, are also organised throughout the year to explore life behind the scenes at the museum (Monday to Friday, between 10:00 and 17:00).
The programme is conducted mainly in French and Dutch, and occasionally in English. A good command of French or Dutch is required to take part in the programme. Calendar 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 September 2026 7, 14 October 2026
18, 25 November 2026
9, 16 December 2026
13, 27 January 2027
3, 17 February 2027
10, 17 March 2027
14, 21 April 2027
12, 19, 26 May 2027
2, 16, 30 June 2027
Learning from one another Each session is an opportunity to get to know one another and build a project together over time.
History of art and culture
Through workshops, seminars, discussions and meetings with artists and cultural professionals, participants explore the past, present and possible futures of art, culture and the city, as well as practices that challenge institutions and imagine more collective, fairer and more open ways of creating.
Working in the cultural sector
Participants discover the full range of roles within cultural organisations, attend meetings that shape life at Kanal, and share their views on the museum.
Organising an event
In collaboration with the Kanal teams, participants organise a real event: concept, budget, artists, programme, promotional materials.
Application deadline:
10 July 2026 at 23:55 (Brussels time)
Results date:
No later than Friday 7 August 2026
Practical information
Age: 16–24 years old
Residence: Brussels-Capital Region
Participants: 12
Duration: Septembre 2026 – June 2027
Who can apply
Kanal is looking for 12 participants who:
- Are aged between 16 and 24 live in the Brussels-Capital Region are motivated to complete the entire programme.
- Have a good command of French or Dutch
- No CV or portfolio required––just curiosity and motivation.
- Kanal particularly encourages residents of neighbouring neighbourhoods, as well as those with no prior experience in the cultural sector or who are not particularly drawn to museums.
What Kanal offers
Be part of the Kanal Generations adventure Support from experienced professionals in the cultural sector. An allowance of €44 per session (€1,100 in total) to participate in the programme. A training programme focused on today's major societal challenges, as well as key practices and skills in the arts and culture sector
The opportunity to meet current and future players in the world of art and culture, and to imagine together what you want to build for this sector. What we expect from you
Commitment to participate in the entire programme, excluding holidays and public holidays. A maximum of two absences per term will be permitted, except in exceptional circumstances.
Active contribution to the organisation of Kanal Generations' activities and events, in collaboration with the Kanal teams.
Participants are selected by a jury comprising members of Kanal, Brussels-based youth organisations and professionals from the art world.
The jury selects participants based on the following criteria: Personal background Areas of interest Interest in socially engaged practices Diversity in terms of age, place of residence, gender, cultural background, etc.