From 1 October 2025, Nora Mahammed will become Head of Drama at RITCS. She will succeed Hendrik De Smedt, who will remain a researcher at the school. Mahammed brings a rich background and a strong vision on culture, inclusion, and artistic leadership.
Distinguished Festival Director and Lecturer
Until recently, Nora Mahammed was the director of the Theatre Festival Flanders. In addition, she works as a guest lecturer in Cultural Policy at the Erasmushogeschool Brussels, where she shares her knowledge and experience with students of Social Cultural Work – a programme she herself completed before earning a master’s degree in Cultural Education at the VUB. During her career, Mahammed has worked at deBuren as a programme coordinator and knowledge-sharing specialist, and at Globe Aroma, where she pioneered participatory programming practices together with the Art For All group. Her approach consistently focuses on inclusion, co-creation, and cultural democracy.
Social and Artistic Commitment
Mahammed has also made her mark in the social-artistic field. She coordinated projects such as Beauty Verhalen Salon (FEMALE ECONOMY & Kaaitheater) and MUSLIM/HIPSTER (doyougetme.world), which focus on identity, diversity, and audience engagement. Her commitment goes beyond practice: Mahammed is chairperson of the Cultural Council of the Flemish Community Commission and a board member at Kunstenfestivaldesarts. She will soon join the boards of Gouvernement vzw and the newly established MINT vzw.
A Strong Voice in the Cultural Sector
Nora Mahammed has a strong voice in the Flemish and Brussels arts scene. She is a member of the ‘Literary Projects and Organisations’ committee of Literature Flanders and sits on the future committee of Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez, where she contributes to discussions about the future of cultural democracy within the Horizon 2035 framework. She is also in high demand as a juror for artistic and policy-oriented projects. With this appointment, RITCS chooses a committed and well-rounded profile who thoughtfully connects content, policy, and practice. Handover after Two Terms
Mahammed’s predecessor, Hendrik De Smedt, graduated as a theatre director from RITCS and earned an MBA at Vlerick Business School. He combined his work as a freelance theatre maker, producer, and researcher with strong involvement in the arts sector, including as co-founder and managing director of A Two Dogs Company. In 2017, he took up the role of Head of Drama Training, a position he fulfilled with vision and dedication for two full terms. De Smedt remains active in various boards within the arts sector and continues his affiliation with RITCS as a lecturer and researcher. Additionally, he is resuming work as a freelancer.
I'm drawn to RITCS for its focus on decolonising the curriculum and embracing diverse, including non-Western, perspectives. My goal is to foster space for experimentation, risk-taking, and learning from mistakes—key to promoting inclusion, accessibility and ecological awareness.
