The City of Brussels is now a member of the Music Cities Network (MCN), an international non-profit organisation promoting collaboration amongst 'musical cities'.
The network encourages the creation of sustainable, diverse, and resilient music ecosystems by facilitating collaboration between policymakers, marketing teams, music professionals, and artists, announced City of Brussels councillors Anaïs Maes (Vooruit) and Delphine Houba (PS) in a press release on Friday.
In addition to its practical benefits, the membership is intended to demonstrate Brussels' commitment to its already rich music scene.
"It reflects our ongoing commitment to creativity, cultural diversity and international cooperation. By collaborating with other leading music cities, we aim to further strengthen our vibrant music scene," said Maes.
The capital's membership further comes along with access to resources, funding, as well as enhanced international visibility, and a promised boost in local economy through music tourism. Moreover, the MCN fosters community engagement by supporting local artists and offering opportunities for collaborations and cultural exchanges with other cities.
"Making Brussels a European Capital of Music strengthens the city's cultural heritage and is further proof of our determination to continue to make it vibrate to the rhythm of creativity," concluded Houba.
The MCN was originally developed in 2016 by Hamburg Music Business and Sound Diplomacy, and legally established in 2021. The network currently consists of 14 member cities. The typical cost for a full member city to join the network is €6,500 per year, according to the MCN website.
