A free room for people from all walks of life

(JB) The atmosphere is focused but relaxed in the street work centre in Rue de Michel Rodange in Luxembourg City.

Between the chatter of voices and background music is the sound of brush strokes on canvas.

At first glance one could think they have stumbled across an art class. But, there is no teacher here at FreeRoom. Instead, participants paint or draw whatever they feel like, coming and going when it suits them.

“I'm just learning by doing like the people who come here,” FreeRoom founder Chris Hartkopf says. The 25-year-old set up FreeRoom to provide a drop-in space where people from all backgrounds can be creative and relax without spending any money.

Outreach work

Launched in June this year and supported by the "Fondation Thierry Van Werveke" and Caritas Luxembourg, the project serves as an outreach tool to help the city's homeless.

“They (homeless people) can express themselves by accepting and spending time with themselves without being in the street or in a group where people are drinking or taking drugs,” Chris says, adding: “We don't play the role of the victim, you make a break from all that here. It's a place to rest.”

The benefits of FreeRoom are noticeable already. “The activity is successful in the sense that I'm not seen as a social worker. I'm the man you can talk to about yourself,” social worker Bertrand Dauplais explains.

“The crazy thing is people are not opposite you. They are next to you. If you're looking at the same painting, you're not looking at the person. So, you can talk about so many things. It breaks down walls.”

FreeRoom has also helped a number of participants nurture new skills, which may help them find work. Paul, from Romania, has been living in a tent since he moved to Luxembourg eight months ago looking for work. The class has helped him to perfect his lifelike portrait drawings, so much so that he is able to sell them.

“This place has really helped me to perfect my drawings. I really learned with people and it's given me confidence to go further. I think it's my future job,” he explains.

Inspiring one another

Not all participants need help, however. The group attracts people who have homes and jobs but simply want to be creative or give back.

Jugurtha, 25, quit his studies a year ago and is looking for work. “I came here because art is something which has interested me for a long time. It's interesting to volunteer and meet people, to spend time with them and be proactive. Here you feel you're not wasting time,” he says.

Chris says that the mixture of backgrounds is important as participants can inspire one another.

“Someone from the street might get a self-esteem boost by seeing someone young who is developing themselves. It's about getting people back on track,” he says.

And Chris knows from personal experience how hard that can be. The German national came to Luxembourg in 2009 with nowhere to live and no work. Since working as a youth club volunteer and founding FreeRoom, he now has a job he loves and plenty more projects up his sleeve.

“A lot of people saw me when I was volunteering at the youth clubs and now they see that I'm employed. They think it's really moving. It's not a one hit wonder,” Chris says.

Among Chris' plans, he is appealing to businesses and venues in Luxembourg to host exhibitions of the art being created at FreeRoom. As the group gains momentum, he is also seeking a new space in which to create a permanent FreeRoom drop-in, open five days a week.

Finally, he hopes to broaden the creative scope and create a FreeRoom for musicians.

Get involved

FreeRoom is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 16, rue Michel Rodange, Luxembourg, from 2pm to 6pm.

If you can help FreeRoom by offering art space, exhibition space or music space or you simply want to take part, email Bertrand.DAUPLAIS@casasbl.lu or visit the FreeRoom Facebook page