Useful links
Resources and tools for anyone working creatively in Brussels, by category. Pick one or more categories at the top. A name opens the website.
Know a good resource? Pass it on.
Fair work and pay
What is fair pay, and which agreements should you put in writing?
2 links
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Juist is JuistFor: Performing arts, music, visual and audiovisual artsCalculators, collective agreements and pay scales, checklists, contract modules and guides for working together fairly.
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Creative Fair PlayFor: All disciplinesSeven agreements between clients and creatives: no free work, paid competitions, sorted copyright.
Business and legal
Contracts, VAT, copyright and the admin side of your practice.
4 links
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Cultuurloket: kennisbankFor: Cultural sectorLegal, tax and financial guidance on working and running a business in culture: contracts, VAT, non-profit management, social safety net.
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Cultuurloket: afspraakFor: Cultural sectorBook an appointment with an adviser for personal advice.
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Flanders District of Creativity: kennis en toolsFor: Design and fashionGuides on starting up, sales, intellectual property, admin and doing business internationally.
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Ten questions that show how digitally resilient your business is, with practical tips.
Working and invoicing
As a self-employed person, or through a cooperative or payroll agency.
4 links
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Freelancen: zelfstandig, payroll of SBK?For: New freelancersCultuurloket sets the options side by side, so you can choose how to freelance with your eyes open.
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Workers' cooperative: you invoice jobs without your own company and work as an employee of the cooperative.
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AmploFor: Creative and cultural freelancersInvoice your work without self-employed status, with the social protection of an employee.
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Payroll partner that acts as the legal employer for freelancers, artists and students.
Funding and grants
Grants and other ways to get a project funded.
2 links
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Cultuurloket: je financieringsmixFor: Cultural sectorOverview of grants and other funding options for culture.
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Financiering zoekenFor: Design and fashionFlanders District of Creativity on alternatives to a bank loan.
Training and jobs
Learning about the business side, and job openings in the sector.
2 links
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Cultuurloket: opleidingenFor: Cultural sectorTraining and webinars on the business side of culture, some of them free.
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Jobs and internships in design and fashion.
Listings and visibility
Put your event where people will find it.
2 links
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UiTdatabankFor: Anyone organising somethingEnter your activity for free and it shows up in more than a thousand online listings, apps and publications.
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publiq platformFor: Anyone building their own listingsAccess to the UiTdatabank APIs and widgets, to show events on your own site.
Organising together
Tools for collectives that want to set something up together.
3 links
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Belgian foundation that gives groups without their own legal entity a legal and financial home, with a public budget.
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Open-source software for a local community's shared events calendar.
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Open-source participation platform: proposals, deliberation and decision-making.
Software
Open-source and free programs to make things with, from 3D to lighting control.
21 links
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ArtCraftFor: AI image and videoOpen-source studio for AI image and video, with a set of creative desktop apps for images, vectors, video and layout. Still in progress: the first apps are early alpha versions.
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BlenderFor: 3D, animation and VFXEverything 3D in one program: modelling, animation, rendering, visual effects and video editing.
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KritaFor: Digital painting and drawingPainting program for illustration, concept art and comics, with simple 2D animation.
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GIMPFor: Image editingEdit and retouch photos, and prepare images for web or print.
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InkscapeFor: Vector designVector drawing for logos, icons and illustrations, in the open SVG format.
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ScribusFor: Layout and printPage layout for posters, magazines, brochures and books, right up to a print-ready PDF.
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PenpotFor: UX/UI and web designDesign interfaces together in the browser. Free to sign up, or install it on your own server.
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FontForgeFor: Type designCreate, edit and convert typefaces.
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darktableFor: PhotographyManage photos and develop RAW files without touching the original.
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KdenliveFor: Video editingMultitrack video editing with effects and transitions.
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OBS StudioFor: Recording and livestreamingRecord video and stream live, with scenes from multiple sources.
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OpenToonzFor: 2D animationProduction suite for 2D animation, free to use for commercial and non-commercial projects.
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AudacityFor: AudioRecord and edit sound, from podcasts and voice-overs to a quick demo.
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LMMSFor: Music productionDigital studio for making music with samples, synths and a piano roll.
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MuseScore StudioFor: Composers and musiciansWrite, play back and print sheet music.
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GodotFor: Games and XRGame engine for 2D and 3D, with built-in support for OpenXR and WebXR.
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p5.jsFor: Creative codingJavaScript library for making images and interaction by coding, right in the browser.
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ComfyUIFor: Generative AIBuild AI workflows for images and video with nodes on a canvas. Runs on your own computer; the source code is on GitHub.
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FreeCADFor: Product design and architectureParametric 3D modelling of real objects, from furniture to parts.
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Seamly2DFor: Fashion and pattern draftingDraft made-to-measure clothing patterns that you then adjust just by changing the measurements.
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QLC+For: Stage technology and lightingLighting desk on your computer to control DMX lighting, including on a Raspberry Pi.