Projects per year
Personal profile
Expertise
Free De Backer is an associate professor in arts education at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she leads the Department of Educational Sciences and co-leads the Brussels research centre for Innovation in Learning and Diversity (BILD) - a research group specializing in understanding the structural and systemic changes needed to enhance education and participation.
Her research explores the intersections of art and care, disability aesthetics, and arts education and participation across diverse learning environments. Her work spans both fundamental and applied research, emphasizing transformative frameworks that drive social change. Adopting an interpretative and critical-emancipatory approach, she examines how individuals and communities in vulnerable situations experience and engage with learning, with the aim of increasing access, participation, and the quality of learning. In an era of rapid societal change, research seeks not only to deepen understanding but also to contribute to emancipation, positioning research as a catalyst for social action and social change. To this end, she employs a diverse range of research methods.
Free De Backer oversees multiple research projects, such as audience research at art centres and music halls (e.g. Ancienne Belgique in Brussels) focusing on inclusivity and a sense of belonging, youth-centred research on the climate crisis through the arts, and interdisciplinary research on cremation practices aimed at fostering compassionate communities.
Free De Backer is also co-supervisor of the Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise. This centre of expertise studies the role of the environment in shaping practices and experiences of serious illness, caregiving, dying, and grieving through interdisciplinary research and innovation. In addition to her roles at the university, she is an appointed VUB representative on the Council School of Arts RITCS (Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinema & Sound) at Erasmushogeschool Brussel, member of the general assembly of Kurt Defrancq Stichting, and a board member of De Veerman, an art educational organisation based in Antwerp. Free De Backer served as president of the non-profit organisation ADJ for ten years (2013-2022).
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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EUPOM166: RESCALE: Reskill Employees by Stimulating Connection between Actors of Labour market & Education
Lombaerts, K., De Backer, F. & De Greef, M.
1/03/25 → 28/02/27
Project: Applied
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IRP24: Studying the complex role of the environment in shaping practices and experiences of serious illness, caregiving, dying and grieving through interdisciplinary research and innovation in Compassionate Communities (COCO_ENV)
Cohen, J., Dury, S., Van den Block, L., Pivodic, L., De Donder, L., Dierckx, E., Smetcoren, A., Snoeck, C., De Backer, F., Lombaerts, K., Spruyt, B., De Moortel, D., Bekers, E., Aernouts, N., Ryckewaert, M., Van Droogenbroeck, F., Beeckman, K., Brosens, D., De Gieter, S. & Vanderstichelen, S.
1/11/24 → 31/10/29
Project: Fundamental
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NSIS1: Brussels Interdisciplinary Research centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM)
Adam, I., Trauner, F., Smets, K., De Kimpe, S., Breuls, L., Lambert, B., Winter, A., Smis, S., De Hert, P., Henrard, K., Vosters, R., Sepp, A., Lechkar, I., Verhaeghe, P., Bircan, T., Van Belle, E., Nagel, M., Brosens, D., De Backer, F. & Consuegra, E.
1/11/24 → 31/10/29
Project: Fundamental
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EUPOM159: Erasmus+ KeyAction1: Wave Makers: Supporting Youth and Ocean Health through Arts and Activism
1/06/24 → 31/08/25
Project: Applied
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EUPOM153: Erasmus+ Key Action2: A Climate Justice & Arts Educational Approach to Youth Work (SEEDLING)
Crois, E., De Backer, F. & Vandermeersche, G.
1/03/24 → 28/02/26
Project: Applied
Research output
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Art Mediation as Public Practice
Nachtergaele, S., De Middeleir, L., Verschelden, G., De bisschop, A. & De Backer, F., 2025, art, media, design education+: Inclusive articulations and practices. Reynders, D. (ed.). Owl Press, p. 57-73 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Chasing Happiness? The meaning of wellbeing-oriented cultural heritage interventions in museums and cultural heritage institutions
Dewinter, H., Goethals, T., De Backer, F., Vandermeersche, G. & De Wilde, L., 2025, In: Cultural Trends. 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sites of Urban Learning: ‘Anneessens Palace’ as a living educational practice
Dalile, L., Dewinter, H., De Backer, F. & Vandermeersche, G., 2025, art, media, design education+: Inclusive articulations and practices. Reynders, D. (ed.). Owl Press, p. 75-89 14 p. 2Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Specialist › peer-review
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A systematic review of the role of schools in promoting equality in students' citizenship education
Pyls, M., Crois, E., De Backer, F., Faddar, J. & Lombaerts, K., 3 Sep 2024, (Unpublished).Research output: Unpublished contribution to conference › Poster
File36 Downloads (Pure) -
Counting beyond ashes: Identifying the possible presence of up to six people in an urn through strontium isotope analysis
Frère, A., Löffelmann, T., Veselka, B., Sengeløv, A., James, H., Gerritzen, C., de Mulder, G., Cauwe, N., De Backer, F. & Snoeck, C., 7 May 2024, Abstract book Cremations In Archaeology 2024. 2024 ed. Ljubljana, Slovenia: University of Ljubljana Press, p. 57-57 1 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Meeting abstract (Book) › Research
File20 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Determinants of self-regulated learning practices in elementary education
Thomas, V. M. (Researcher), Lombaerts, K. (Data Manager), Peeters, J. (Data Collector) & De Backer, F. (Researcher), Zenodo, 25 Jan 2025
Dataset
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Non-disabled performing artists’ views on disability aesthetics and their collaborations with performers with a disability
De Backer, F. (Creator) & Verbeke, A. (Creator), VUB Institutional Data Repository, 7 Jan 2025
Dataset
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Chinese and Western classroom learning environments (CLE) research
Lombaerts, K. (Creator), Cai, J. (Creator), Vandermeersche, G. (Creator) & De Backer, F. (Creator), VUB Institutional Data Repository, 11 Mar 2025
Dataset
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Primary School Teachers Perceptions Critical Thinking
Lombaerts, K. (Creator), Lombardi, L. (Creator) & De Backer, F. (Creator), VUB Institutional Data Repository, 11 Mar 2025
Dataset
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Multi-isotope and infrared data from Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age Herstal and Court-Saint-Etienne, Belgium
Frère, A. (Creator), Loeffelmann, T. (Researcher), Veselka, B. (Researcher), Stamataki, E. (Researcher), Sengeløv, A. (Researcher), James, H. (Researcher), de Mulder, G. (Researcher), Claes, B. (Other), De Backer, F. (Supervisor) & Snoeck, C. (Supervisor), IsoArcH database, 11 Apr 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48530/isoarch.2025.009
Dataset
Activities
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I Love Science Festival - Cave Walk
Elvira Crois (Supervisor), Free De Backer (Advisor), Hannibal Glaser (Contributor), Bob Lundgreen (Contributor), Sophie Verheyden (Advisor) & Serge Delaby (Advisor)
2025 → …Activity: Other › Written proposal
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Codename Seedling: Hive Symposium
Elvira Crois (Organiser), Free De Backer (Host) & Geert Vandermeersche (Member)
21 Jan 2025 → 23 Jan 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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International Research Stay: Participatory Arts for Climate Change Education
Elvira Crois (Participant), Free De Backer (Supervisor) & Thomas Rosendal Nielsen (Supervisor)
13 May 2024 → 12 Jun 2024Activity: Other › Research and Teaching at External Organisation
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A systematic literature review of the role of schools in promoting equality in students’ citizenship education
Margaux Pyls (Speaker), Elvira Crois (Contributor), Free De Backer (Contributor), Jerich Faddar (Contributor) & Koen Lombaerts (Contributor)
27 Aug 2024 → 30 Aug 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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A systematic literature review of the role of schools in promoting equality in students’ citizenship education
Margaux Pyls (Speaker), Elvira Crois (Contributor), Free De Backer (Speaker), Jerich Faddar (Speaker) & Koen Lombaerts (Speaker)
23 Oct 2024 → 24 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
Press/Media
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Open brief aan Hilde Crevits en Frank Vandenbroucke: We sterven maar één keer, laten we dat dus goed voorbereiden
Luc Deliens, Joachim Cohen, Liesbeth De Donder, Sarah Dury, Kenneth Chambaere, Bert Quintiens, Marijke Dheedene, Bram Spruyt, An Hooghe, Free De Backer, Koen Lombaerts, Christophe Vanroelen, Hanne Bakelants, Louise D'Eer, Steven Vanderstichelen, Lisa Van Hove, Sara De Gieter, Deborah De Moortel, Elvira Crois, An-Sofie Smetcoren, Peter Theuns, Eva Dierckx & Veerle Soyez
13/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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VUB study shows that secondary school pupils also experience discrimination. Having a non-Western sounding name can be an obstacle when seeking a job
Céline Martens & Free De Backer
21/12/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
Thesis
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Cruciale factoren in de zoektocht naar werk als startende acteur.
Author: Sanen, S., Struyven, K. & De Backer, F., Jun 2014Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Machtsstructuren en clubcultuur: Een kwalitatief onderzoek naar de machtsstructuren binnen clubcultuur door het oog van deejays
Author: Luijkx, S. & De Backer, F., 2021Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Mee met mode: co-creatieve ondernemingscentra als informele leeromgeving.
Author: Nauwelaerts, A. & De Backer, F., 2016Supervisor: Struyven, K. (Promotor)
Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Ongelijkheid tussen leerlingen op vlak van aanwervingskansen: Een verkennend onderzoek in kader van de YOUCA Action Day
Author: Martens, C. & De Backer, F., 2021Student thesis: Master's Thesis
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Randvoorwaarden voor het opstellen van educatieve programma’s in musea voor ouderen.
Author: Stevens, A., De Donder, L. & De Backer, F., 2015Supervisor: De Donder, L. (Promotor)
Student thesis: Master's Thesis