Description:
Between January 2008 and September 2009 Volkskunde Vlaanderen vzw (VV) ran the project 'Heart for people's cafes' to point out the importance and the value of the people's cafes in Flanders and Brussels, both as important places for social encounters as well as unique components of our cultural heritage. VV came to the conclusion that the people's cafes were closing and disappearing at a vast pace and was convinced that this would mean a great cultural loss. By organizing an awareness campaign and public activities VV generated public support for the topic. VV also aimed to contribute to the safeguarding of the remaining people's cafes. Because the people's cafes combine elements of intangible, tangible and architectural heritage in a specific and typical way, a special approach is required. VV did largescale research on the people's cafes and presented the information to the Flemish government in a viability study, with a number of policy recommendations in the concluding chapter. As a result of the project both the press and many individuals and organisations picked up the message of VV and developed their own initiatives to contribute to securing the future of the remaining people's cafes in Flanders and Brussels.