During the entire final week of the Queen Elisabeth Competition Cello, conservatory students performed music just outside BOZAR in Brussels. Their action 'Requiem for culture' is a protest against the significant increase in registration fees for students from outside the European Union.
Solidarity with international students
Just before each final evening, music students from the conservatory perform outdoors near BOZAR. "This is a major solidarity action with our students from outside the European Union. Due to the savings measures of the Flemish Community, their registration fees have doubled", says Lulu Aertgeerts, director of the Brussels Conservatory. Seventy percent of the conservatory's students come from abroad, ten percent from outside the European Union, mainly from Asia. "Diversity is our strongest asset. The international students inspire each other, forge lifelong friendships, network. Great international careers are also born here", according to Aertgeerts.
Changing the rules during the game
The registration fee has been raised from 9,000 to 17,500 euros for non-Europeans, a doubling! This measure was introduced with immediate effect, even for students whose studies are ongoing. Can this be considered a breach of contract? "This feels like the rules are changing during the game", Aertgeerts believes. Meanwhile, Erasmushogeschool Brussel, which the conservatory is part of, is stepping up and it would be around 11,000 euros. Like the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, other higher education institutions are affected and non-European students have to pay more. "RITCS, LUCA School of Arts, the VUB and the Antwerp fashion academy: they are hit very hard", says Aertgeerts.
Rolling back the measure is not immediately in the cards. Through the Roi Baudouin Foundation, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support students who cannot make ends meet.