The Alpha-Culture project, supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, is an artistic initiative designed to strengthen the personal expression and self-confidence of adults in training. Through workshops combining physical relaxation and artistic practices, participants explore their stories, identities, and creativity. These sessions, led by experienced artists such as Alexandra Briois and Raphaëlle Pellé, combine painting, calligraphy, and craftsmanship to enable free and authentic expression.
During the 2022-2023 edition, entitled “La Mosaïque des Cultures” (The Mosaic of Cultures), participants created works illustrating their life journeys between their countries of origin and their new lives in Belgium. The workshops, enriched by cultural outings, allowed them to discover major works of art and draw inspiration from them. In 2023-2024, with the “Lettr’ & Toiles” project, calligraphy took center stage, while further exploring abstract and contemporary art. This dynamic was complemented by sessions dedicated to the creation of fanzines, an initiative that combines art and social messages.
These workshops are much more than just technical training. They offer participants a space for sharing, mutual support, and escape, thereby promoting better social and cultural integration. The final creations, whether paintings or fanzines, are rich and engaging visual testimonials that highlight the many facets of the participants’ life stories.
Twenty workshop sessions were organized, allowing participants to discover or rediscover painting as a powerful means of cultural expression. Led by Alexandra Briois, painter and psychomotor therapist, these workshops combined moments of physical relaxation with an introduction to free and anti-stress painting. Through these sessions, technical aspects were gradually integrated to enrich the artistic experience. A group dynamic also developed over the course of the weekly exercises (relaxation, physical expression, drawing, decals, painting in various formats and styles), promoting self-confidence and strong bonds between participants. To stimulate their creativity, cultural outings were organized, inspiring participants in the creation of their final works.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the works produced had to reflect “the life of migrants in Liège/Belgium” through diptychs (two works) or more, illustrating a memorable memory of their country of origin (place, dish, landscape, etc.) and a significant aspect of their “new life” in Belgium. This project, entitled “The Mosaic of Cultures,” highlighted the individual and collective journeys of the participants. etc.) and a significant aspect of their “new life” in Belgium. This project, entitled “La Mosaïque des Cultures” (The Mosaic of Cultures), highlighted the individual and collective journeys of the participants.
For the 2023-2024 edition, Alexandra Briois continued this approach by adapting the project, renamed “Lettr’ & Toiles.” Over 16 sessions, the focus was on calligraphy while deepening the practice of free painting. Cultural outings allowed the group to discover major artists such as Hokusai, Degas, Toulouse Lautrec, Van Gogh, and Claude Monet, before being introduced to abstract and contemporary art.
Finally, illustrator Raphaëlle Pellé led four sessions dedicated to creating a handmade booklet. Inspired by fanzine culture, this project combined artistic and craft techniques (cutting, collage, graphic design, and printing). Designed to spread political and social messages quickly and cheaply, this booklet reflects the commitment and creativity of the participants.
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Encouraging self-expression: Providing a safe space for participants to share their stories through art.
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Promoting well-being and self-confidence: Combining physical relaxation and artistic activities to reduce stress and boost self-esteem.
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Cultural and artistic discovery: Organize outings to discover major artists and enrich participants’ inspiration.
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Collective and personal creation: Enable participants to create works that reflect their identity and experiences, such as diptychs or fanzines.
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Promoting cultural diversity: Highlighting migration journeys and multiple identities through a variety of artistic practices.
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Strengthening social ties: Promoting intercultural and interpersonal exchanges within workshops to build an inclusive and supportive group dynamic.
List of videos presenting the works by the learners (2022-2023 edition)
