505 – Concerts for Humanity bring connection and solidarity in Antwerp on May 5. “It seemed like everyone felt like this was needed now.”
505 – Concerts for Humanity is an initiative of a large group of committed citizens, supported by artists, the culture and events sector, civil society, organizations and companies. They all want one thing: to live in a human society.
With the elections approaching, they want to send a strong signal to politicians for a more humane policy. With the 505 – Concerts for Humanity, they emphasize the urgent need for more humane, more just and more caring policies, and the importance of taking this into account in the search for solutions for all people affected by crises such as those in Gaza, climate change and child poverty.
Need for connection and solidarity
The political debate can be so harsh,” says Els Hertogen, initiator and director of 11.11.11. “The language used on social media is also harsh, which sometimes makes it seem as if we no longer see the other person as a human being. There are so many things happening in society that sometimes made me feel like ‘Gosh, I need to get together with people and spread a positive message’.”
“I started calling around to organize a music event around humanity. I soon came into contact with people who actually had the same idea.”
“It was striking that everyone we contacted, whether it was the event world, the cultural sector, just friends and family, all responded very positively. It seemed like everyone felt like this was needed now.”
“In just three and a half months we managed to organize this event, even though many with experience in event organization considered this impossible. Still, we succeeded. I think this shows that there was a strong need for it.”
The event
The large-scale music event in Antwerp expects more than 20,000 people to come together. With a line-up of 60 diverse artists, ranging from musicians to speakers, the 505 – Concerts for Humanity promises to provide a rich and varied musical experience for a wide audience.
Support the event
People who cannot attend in person are encouraged to sign the manifesto as an individual or on behalf of an organization via the website. In this way, a strong signal is sent that there is broad support for a policy based on solidarity and humanity.
Practical information
Date Time: May 5, 2024, 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Antwerp – Sint-Jansplein
Access: free
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