STAD_HUIS On Tour: sofa con­ver­sa­tion with Clarice Gargard and Sholeh Rezazadeh

What does democracy mean today? And how can you create a better world for yourself and others? Clarice Gargard and Sholeh Rezazadeh share their perspectives. They provide numerous tools, inspiration, and ways to get started.
 

After the discussion, you can ask questions or have a book signed.

Clarice M.D. Gargard

Clarice M.D. Gargard (Philadelphia, 1988) is a journalist, writer, documentary maker and organiser who combines journalism, art, social justice and philosophy. She worked as a columnist for NRC and as a Resistance Correspondent for De Correspondent.

In 2025, her new book 'Na verzet komt (r)evolutie' (After resistance comes (r)evolution) was published, about how to unleash a personal and social (r)evolution. In 2019, Gargard was the Dutch women's representative. She gave a speech on women's rights and the importance of systemic change during the United Nations General Assembly.

The documentary 'Daddy and the Warlord' won a Golden Calf for Best Short Documentary in 2019. The documentary is about her father and the Liberian civil wars and was made in collaboration with Shamira Raphaëla.

She also won a Black Achievement Award in the People and Society category and was nominated for the Joke Smit Encouragement Award in 2018 and 2019 for her work and activism. In 2020, she won the international feminist Emma Goldman Snowball Award.

Sholeh Rezazadeh

Iranian-Dutch writer, poet and performer Sholeh Rezazadeh is KU Leuven's sixth writer-in-residence. She presents a text about what democracy means to her today.

Sholeh Rezazadeh has had a remarkable career as a writer. Just three years after arriving in the Netherlands, she signed the contract for her debut novel 'De hemel is altijd paars' (The sky is always purple). With this novel, she won the Debutantenprijs (Debut Prize) of the Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde (Society of Dutch Literature) and the Bronzen Uil Publieksprijs (Bronze Owl Audience Award). The book was also longlisted for the Libris Literatuurprijs (Libris Literature Prize) and the Hebban Debuutprijs (Hebban Debut Prize).

For her second novel, 'Ik ken een berg die op me wacht' (I Know a Mountain That Waits for Me), she received a special mention from The European Union Prize for Literature and nominations for the Amarte Literature Prize and the Nature Book Prize.

In addition, she scored as a poet with her poetry debut 'Neem ruim zei de zee' (Take Space, Said the Sea), which was selected as the Book Week Poem of 2025. She is widely praised for her colourful use of language, depiction of nature and originality.

• When: Thursday, 16 October 2025, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Chapel Hall, Paul Van Ostaijen Building, Erasme Ruelensvest 127 in Heverlee (view on map)
• Language: Dutch
• Price: Pay what you can:
  • €10
  • €12 (suggested price)
  • €14
  • €2.40 with UiTPAS with reduced rate
• Accessibility
  • The room is wheelchair accessible
  • There is a lift
  • More about accessibility Paul van Ostaijen site

The sofa talks are part of the STAD_HUIS On Tour programme, a collaboration between the City of Leuven, 30CC and LOV2030.

Did you know that Leuven's iconic town hall is temporarily closed for restoration? That's why we're bringing this inspiring meeting place to you. At various locations throughout the city, we invite you to reflect, engage in dialogue and take action.

This autumn's theme is “democracy”. Because democracy is something you create yourself, every day. And sitting still is certainly not an option today. Turn inspiration into action or speak up yourself during an event.

On the programme:

• sofa conversations “Thinkers on democracy”,
• documentaries “The Five of Vranckx”,
• duo lectures “From parchment to participation”,
• exhibition “The Democracy Factory” for schools,
• and an innovation lab for young people “Future Generation Lab”.