Ilke Froyen named new director of Passa Porta

Ilke Froyen, a programme director at Brussels literature house Passa Porta, has been unanimously selected by the board to be the new general director of the organisation. She replaces Sigrid Bousset, who led Passa Porta from 2008 until last year.

Since its launch in 2004, Froyen (pictured, right) has helmed a number of Passa Porta’s major projects, including the graphic novel competition Brussels in Shorts, the short-story festival Lange Nacht van het Korte Verhaal and last month’s Passa Porta Festival.

Aside from its numerous literary events, Passa Porta runs a multi-lingual bookshop on Dansaertstraat, with regular readings, and hosts an international writer-in-residence programme.

“I am fascinated by the force of stories and also by the many voices that can be heard in Brussels,” Froyen said. “Passa Porta is a unique space where both come together, and it’s a fascinating challenge to be asked to continue building that space.”

Photo by YCS/Het Nieuwsblad