Sites of Urban Learning: ‘Anneessens Palace’ as a living educational practice

Focusing on Brussels’ Anneessens quarter, known for its urban
complexity, this chapter examines ‘Anneessens Palace’, a project
initiated by sound art organization Bruxelles Nous AppartientBrussel Behoort Ons Toe (BNA-BBOT) in 2013. The project was established as a collaborative initiative between the organization and the residents of Anneessens neighbourhood, aimed at uncovering the urban narratives that have shaped the complex neighbourhood. Through an archival analysis of the project, the chapter contributes to the larger discourse on urban learning, highlighting how informal and participatory initiatives like ‘Anneessens Palace’ serve a crucial role in facilitating the sharing, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge specific to a local community. These initiatives act as central points where individuals, groups, or institutions come together to exchange ideas, practices, and insights that are deeply rooted in their local context. Moreover, ‘Anneessens Palace’ examines the role of artistic methodologies within the project to achieve this exchange, illustrating how these approaches underlie the learning experience and contribute to a deeper understanding of urban dynamics.