Despite the desires of many politicians, Charleroi is less a city than a collection of villages, which were artificially connected by industries first, then by the 1977 merge-of-communes-policy. HOTEL CHARLEROI continued its research by settling in Marchienne-au-Pont in 2013, one of the most affected parts of Charleroi. Once the industrial revolution started here; today Marchienne is rather associated with tristesse, poverty and social institutions. In March 2013, we launched an open call for local and international contemporary artists wishing to investigate the interests of artistic production in Marchienne. Around 20 artists were invited for a summer residency in Fonderie Thiébaut, and took part in the September exhibition CAPITAL SOCIAL in Marchienne’s public space, under the shadow of the majestic Brasserie des Alliés.