MEDAA

The Maison européenne des Autrices et des Auteurs (MEDAA) is a dedicated space for authors and cultural professionals, offering coworking areas, meeting rooms, and a café. Located at Rue Royale Prince 85/87 in Ixelles, near the European Quarter and institutions, MEDAA was inaugurated on March 17, 2018, through the initiative of SACD and Scam. It welcomes members of SACD, Scam, deAuteurs, SOFAM, and various Belgian and European professional organizations that support authors and defend their rights. MEDAA provides a stimulating environment for authors and cultural professionals to work, meet, and collaborate. The facility includes an informal and cozy café, individual coworking spaces, and private meeting rooms of various sizes. These spaces are designed to foster creativity and facilitate professional activities within the artistic and cultural sectors. The café serves as a warm and welcoming area where authors and cultural professionals can share ideas and engage in discussions. Open from 9 am to 5 pm, it offers 30 seats and can accommodate up to 60 standing guests. Amenities include Wi-Fi, covered bicycle storage, individual lockers, and a bar. The café is ideal for professional meetings, individual work, group work, and receptions. The coworking space offers a studious yet friendly atmosphere, with around twenty places reserved for authors. Situated on either side of a leafy patio, it provides an environment conducive to individual work. Facilities include Wi-Fi, covered bicycle parking, individual lockers, and access to the café. For more private work or small group collaborations, MEDAA offers four cubicles, each accommodating up to three people. These spaces allow users to isolate themselves from the main activity while remaining connected to the vibrant environment of MEDAA. Amenities include Wi-Fi, covered bike parking, individual lockers, and access to the café. MEDAA also provides several meeting rooms equipped to host various events, including general meetings, conferences, workshops, and press conferences. These rooms are modular and equipped to meet diverse needs, ensuring a successful event experience. The renovation of MEDAA was overseen by architect Jean-Paul Hermant, who emphasized simple lines, light, and circulation. The café serves as the convivial nerve center of the Maison, acting as an entrance, hub, and management point for different areas. A green cloister around the patio inspires calm and reflection, providing light and transparency to all connected areas, including coworking spaces, work cubicles, meeting rooms, the café, and the terrace. The project was financed entirely by income generated from renting spaces designed to host events in optimal conditions, tailored to the cultural sector. Rental fees are the backbone of this project, ensuring that authors' money was not used for the renovation. MEDAA stands as a home for authors, offering a space where they can work, train, meet, and mobilize. It serves as a hub for the cultural sector, bringing together the community of authors and amplifying their collective voice. Regular training courses, workshops, and seminars are organized, keeping authors informed about changes in statutes, rights, and professional activities.