A cultural club for women, a dream that came true over 100 years ago

At a time when feminism is giving a voice to minorities, abolishing the collectively accepted rules of patriarchy and breaking glass ceilings, it is essential to remember that the only fight women (and men) have is to have the same rights. The right to open up to the world, the right to learn and educate, to climb the ladder, the right to be an emblematic figure in science and the arts, and so on: these are some of the things that the Lyceum Club International de Belgique, a cultural club for women in Belgium, is defending. To understand its mission, let's take a look back at its origins...

Roots, an anchor that endures over time

Is it possible to live your dreams? Constance Smedley, a freedom-loving Londoner, believed so when, in 1902, she decided to make her greatest dream a reality. She and her friends, Violet Alcock, Christina Growans Whyte, Elsaa Hahn and Jessie Trimble (an American), began to imagine the outlines of what is now known as "The Lyceum Club".    Initially known as the "actual world of the Lyceum", the aim of the project was to promote cultural exchange and the pursuit of lifelong learning throughout the world. Unlike London's all-male clubs, the preserve of upper-class men with access to the world of work, the Lyceum Club aims to open its doors to working women, giving them the right to learn and to have a say in the country's social development.

Setting up this 'ideal' club with branches in every nation was not without its difficulties. Constance was faced with a number of disappointments, firstly the refusal of the Writers Club committee (of which she was a member) to support the project, and secondly the rather eloquent silence of the women who had been asked to represent the club. These were emblematic figures of literature, since the Lyceum Club was originally intended for illustrators and writers only. Never losing her determination, Constance Smedley took numerous steps and wrote to all the women again until she was able to set up a provisional committee.

Once the committee had been set up, it was time to find a meeting place, a pavilion that could be a sort of 'HQ' for all these women. Constance's father, a businessman with a background in real estate, undertook to find a suitable building. The condition? An annual membership fee and the affiliation of a thousand members to the club. Redoubling her efforts, confident in the future and motivated for a thousand, Constance Smedley succeeded in fulfilling the conditions and creating the momentum that continues to thrive, this women's club that is no longer limited to artists and writers but now includes all women, from all walks of life and of all ages. Apolitical and non-sectarian.

If you join the club

Joining our cultural association gives you the chance to:

  • participate in circles (i.e. special interest groups);
  • take part in conferences given by experts, and national and international conferences;
  • take part in the European Cultural Days;
  • learning from others, listening and expanding your network;
  • create deep bonds of friendship;
  • open up to the world, particularly the cultural world

If you would like to explore certain points in greater depth

Do you have any questions about our history, our missions or our activities? We are easily accessible by phone or via the online contact form, to discuss them. The Lyceum Club is a women's association based in Brussels. Its reach extends throughout Belgium.

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