KOPERGIETERY

KOPERGIETERY is a Ghent arts centre built around theatre, dance and music created specifically for children and young people. Its name points directly to the building's past life: the venue occupies a former copper foundry, and the organisation adopted this identity at the start of the 21st century.

Where does the story begin?

The roots go back to 1978, when Speelteater Gent was founded in Ghent as Belgium's first dedicated dramatic arts venue for children and young audiences. The company was established by Eva Bal, and within two years it had secured its first government subsidies, allowing it to grow into a settled cultural institution in the city. The defining turning point came in 2001, when the organisation took on the name Kopergietery and moved into the former copper foundry building from which it still draws its identity today.

What is Kopergietery today?

It operates as a creative arts centre for children and young people, with a programme built around three main disciplines: theatre, dance and music. In a typical season the company produces between three and five new performances aimed at different age groups. A distinctive trait of its work is that the professional actors and dancers involved tend to draw on personal experience rather than adapting existing dramatic texts, giving the resulting productions a direct, personal quality that sets them apart from more conventional repertoire theatre.

Where exactly does the organisation work from?

Kopergietery runs from two locations in Ghent. Its main base, which houses rehearsal rooms and offices, sits in the Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham district and is known as KG Blekerij. A second venue, KG Rabot, is located in the Rabot district and is shared with the local school Mandala — a detail that reflects how closely the institution is woven into its neighbourhood and into the education of the city's youngest residents.

Does Kopergietery perform beyond Ghent?

Yes. Productions created here regularly tour across Flanders and abroad, and the company also takes part in co-productions with international partners. That makes Kopergietery not just a local stage for Ghent's youngest audiences, but also an active participant in the wider international circuit of theatre for children and young people.

Who is this venue for?

The programme is deliberately broad, with performances pitched at a range of age groups from very young children through to teenagers. That makes Kopergietery a natural stop for family visits to Ghent, particularly for travellers exploring the city with children who are looking for a cultural alternative to the more typical tourist attractions.

Frequently asked questions

What was Kopergietery originally? It began life in 1978 as Speelteater Gent, Belgium's first theatre venue dedicated to children and young audiences, founded by Eva Bal.

Where does the current name come from? The organisation adopted the name Kopergietery in 2001 when it moved into a former copper foundry building, from which the name derives.

What art forms does the company work in? Mainly theatre, dance and music, producing three to five new shows each season.

Where in Ghent are its venues located? In the Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham district (KG Blekerij) and in the Rabot district (KG Rabot), the latter shared with the Mandala school.

Can its productions be seen outside Belgium? Yes, thanks to touring across Flanders and international co-productions, its shows regularly travel abroad.