The art project, an initiative by social economy companies ODAS, Mariasteen, and m-Accent, features artworks created on skateboards by Belgian artists, including four from Bruges: Simon Aernout, Matthias De Wolf, Stuff, and Timothy Verlinde. The exhibition aims to break down prejudices about people with disabilities and the social economy, emphasizing that social economy companies are valuable economic partners.
The skateboard serves as a canvas, symbolizing freedom, individuality, and daring to think outside the box – values that align with the project's message: everyone has talents and deserves the chance to showcase them. The Bruges-based artists Simon Aernout, Matthias De Wolf, Stuff, and Timothy Verlinde, the first three of whom are connected to De Tank, Bruges' creative hub, lend a local touch to the exhibition.
The exhibition is held at the Huis van de Bruggeling, a central location that attracts many visitors daily. The project seeks to dismantle persistent stereotypes about people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and those with a distance to the labor market, while also demonstrating the professional quality and craftsmanship of social economy enterprises.
The artworks will be auctioned on Friday, November 20, 2026, during a gala evening at De Oude Melkerij in Hooglede. Proceeds from the auction and event will go entirely to Parcourage, a Bruges-based organization supporting young people aged 17 to 30 with complex multiple issues who find insufficient answers from other aid agencies. The closing evening, themed 'rock 'n' roll', will be organized by Mariasteen (venue and catering) and m-Accent (decor).
