“Sex workers are often misrepresented—either fetishized or victimized. Even now, and even within marginalized spaces, communities, or activist and leftist environments,” says Carmina, one of the organizers of SNAP! – Festival of Sex Workers’ Narratives, Arts & Politics. From October 17 to 20, Brussels hosted the third edition of the festival, filled with performances, debates, interactive installations, and concerts that shed light on both the personal and political dimensions of sex work. “The topic of sex work is sometimes overlooked or purposely ignored,” Carmina continues. “That is why SNAP! exists. It fights against these stereotypes by offering a platform where sex workers can speak for themselves. They can create more accurate, diverse narratives that challenge sensationalism in the media.”

Challenging the Cultural Landscape

The festival was first founded in 2018 by Marianne Chargois, a sex worker and performance artist. Initially, it was created as a platform where sex workers could directly express their experiences and perspectives and, in doing so, challenge a cultural landscape where sex workers are frequently spoken for or dismissed entirely. Interestingly, it was inspired by feminist scholar Sara Ahmed’s concept of the “Feminist Snap,” a symbolic snapping point where new possibilities emerge. “Despite limited financial support, SNAP! has grown significantly since its first edition, receiving strong community backing and slowly gaining more institutional recognition, particularly since moving to Belgium, where sex work is decriminalized,” explains Carmina.

This year’s SNAP! highlighted two main themes. Coming Out & Family Business focused on the social and personal impacts of coming out as a sex worker, while Whore Studies as a field of research explored sex work’s history and knowledge more broadly. Part of the second theme included talks on topics such as self-managed brothels and antifascism. Events were held in prominent cultural venues in Brussels, including the Halles de Schaerbeek and Cinema Galeries, while workshops took place in venues well known and loved by the LGBTQ community: Grands Carmes and Garage 29. A highlight of the festival was the “Sex Work History Fashion Show,” which opened a discussion on the thought, imagination, and skill that goes into what is known as sex workers’ fashion and how influential these styles are on everyday fashion and popular culture. “The fashion show was a huge success,” emphasizes Carmina.

Photo: © Juliette Viole _ @juj.ve

Spoken For Instead of Included

Although the festival is open to the public and invites active participation, it is, above all, a space for sex workers. A place for the community itself to meet, exchange ideas, and discuss the challenges they face in their work, relationships, and daily lives. Since a significant part of the festival was dedicated to the act of “coming out” as a sex worker and to creating safe spaces for sex workers’ partners and loved ones, it’s clear that destigmatizing the profession and fostering understanding, recognition, and acceptance of sex workers in society are key goals.

At the same time, as Brazilian organization Daspu and their publication Beijo da Rua illustrate, no form of police or state repression impacts sex workers’ business and livelihood as much as economic crises. Thaddeus Gregory Blanchette, in their text “Where’s Willy? The Search for Clients During the Olympic Games,” quotes a sex worker, Gretchen, saying, “How is a man going to pay for sex when he isn’t paid his salary? Most of my loyal clients are state employees. If they don’t get paid, I don’t get paid.”

Furthermore, Carmina notes that one major challenge for sex workers is their exclusion from political and social discourse. She points to censorship—in legislation, banking, and online platforms, where sex workers’ content is regularly removed and their accounts banned. An innovative response to this censorship is OnlyBans, a digital game installation by Lena Chen and Maggie that critically examines the digital surveillance, censorship, and discrimination sex workers face, presenting a speculative vision of how marginalized communities might resist unjust policies to reclaim a free and inclusive internet.

“Despite their expertise, they are often spoken for rather than included,” Carmina points out, explaining that society is still far from integrating the basic principle of including sex workers in discussions about their rights and media representation.

Photo: © Thy Truong Minh _ @thytruongminh

Waiting for SNAP! 2025

As SNAP! Festival wraps up another successful edition, the enthusiasm of its audience and its impact on the community offer a hopeful glimpse into the future. While plans for another SNAP! in Brussels remain uncertain, the resounding support and engagement from volunteers and audience members alike is a promising sign. “Seeing the public be so enthusiastic, hearing that they learned something while having a good time, is an indescribable feeling,” concludes Carmina.

Whether or not SNAP! returns in 2025, this year’s edition has already left a lasting impression, proving that the community it serves is ready, waiting, and eager for more.

Text: Martina Domladovac

Photo: © Juliette Viole _ @juj.ve