World of Mind
Tour & Taxis is evolving into a nexus of great things to do; fun, interesting, entertaining and culinary. The latest permanent addition is the World of Mind (WOM). Raphaël Remiche, Director of Tempora, unveils for us this truly mind blowing attraction. https://worldofmind.be/en/
4m May 28, 2023
4m
Brussels Comics Art Museum
The Brussels Comics Art Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Brussels with over 250,000 visitors a year. Marie Neefs of the institution's communications team explains how the combination of the comic arts, the special building that houses the collection and the high number of temporary exhibitions makes this a blockbuster attraction. www.cbbd.be (http://www.cbbd.be/)
4m May 28, 2023
4m
Throwaway
The House of European History's new exhibition Throwaway - The History of a Contemporary Crisis, is a detailed look at the history of rubbish and how attitudes towards waste, what constitutes waste and what to do about it have changed. Curator Kieran Burns explains. Through 14 January 2024. historia-europa.ep.eu (http://historia-europa.ep.eu/)
5m May 15, 2023
5m
Diane von Furstenberg
The Brussels Fashion and Lace Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Diane von Furstenberg's iconic wrap dress  with an exhibition entitled Woman Before Fashion that celebrates the Belgian born designer's life and career. We spoke with her about her childhood in Brussels, about what made her wrap dress unique and so popular, about her philanthropic activities and about the inspiration sh...
5m May 07, 2023
5m
Le Pistolet Original
Valérie Leplat had the crazy idea to take the basic Belgian bun, the Pistolet, and build a sandwich shop of Belgian specialties around it. Now she's celebrating her tenth anniversary of selling the simple bun, crunchy on the outside and soft inside, filled with an array of Belgian foods. She has regularly invited famous local chefs to create a sandwich and for this milestone she has asked Yves ...
2m May 07, 2023
2m
Balkan Trafik mural 2023
Turkish mural painter No More Lies has painted many murals in his hometown of Istanbul and has come to Brussels at the invitation of the venerable Brussels music and cultural festival Balkan Traffic to paint a mural. He tells us what his inspiration was for this mural which is a sorely needed breath of spring.
2m May 07, 2023
2m
On the Page: the Writers Festival of Belgium podcast #2: Esther Anatolitis
Ahead of this October's Writers Festival of Belgium, we meet Esther Anatolitis, the Editor of Australia’s oldest and most venerable Literary Journal ‘Meanjin’. Esther is a stalwart of literature festivals, one of the founders of the Australian Emerging Writers Festival, now in its 20th year, and previous head of Express Media. She wants to ensure that all voices are heard in the run up to the A...
25m Apr 28, 2023
25m
Brussels Short Film Festival
The Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) is back with eleven days of the best and most daring in short films. There are 300 films in over 90 screenings including three competitions, the National, the International and the Next Generation. But there are also a plethora of themed screenings from Found Footage to the All Night Program to the Very Short Shorts. Co-coordinator Romane Pangrazzi tells ...
5m Apr 23, 2023
5m
Ancient Egypt at Royal Museums of Art and History
The Royal Museum of Art and History has inaugurated a new exhibition highlighting the origins and the breadth of their Ancient Egypt collections. Exhibition Coordinator and Curator Elisabeth Van Caelenberge explains how Brussels houses one of the top five collections of Egyptian artefacts in Europe.
5m Apr 17, 2023
5m
Horta vs Art Nouveau
During this Year of Art Nouveau in Brussels 2023, The aim of the Horta Museum's latest exhibition Victor Horta versus Art Nouveau is to present Horta in a different light.  Curator Benjamin Zurstrassen tells that Victor Horta called himself a "modern architect" and explains the different movements that informed the architect's style and philosophy. Through 8 January 2024. Free. www.hortamuseum....
5m Apr 11, 2023
5m
Le Chat
Beloved Belgian cartoon hero Le Chat is having a moment with two exhibitions at once in Brussels. Creator Philippe Geluck explains what is going on. http://lechat.com/en/homepage/
5m Apr 02, 2023
5m
Artem Mozgovoy: Spring in Siberia
We interview Artem Mozgovoy, Russian journalist and writer living in Brussels who has written a novel, Spring in Siberia, which is being published by Red Hen Press the first week in April. The book is a coming of age story, of a young man growing up gay in Siberia during the painful dissolution of the USSR and his long journey to a fulfilling life in the European capital. www.redhen.org (http:/...
10m Mar 19, 2023
10m
Klarafestival 2023
It's the time of year for Klarafestival - the biggest broadcast festival in Belgium. Festival intendant Joost Fonteyne gives us the details. Until 26 March www.klarafestival.be (http://www.klarafestival.be/)
4m Mar 11, 2023
4m
On the Page: the Writers Festival of Belgium podcast #1: Dr Leah Broad
"Music and politics" is the theme for the second edition of the Writers Festival of Belgium, in October 2023. In this first podcast, festival director Alia Papageorgiou meets Dr Leah Broad, an Oxford researcher on female composers in classical music. She's been researching what seems to be the concerted effort to remove female classical music composers from the public discourse. Her new book, Q...
32m Mar 10, 2023
32m
BANAD Festival
BANAD, the annual festival of Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture that takes place across Brussels is particularly loaded with events this year as 2023 has been proclaimed the Year of Art Nouveau. Alessandro Porotto, Scientific Coordinator for Explore.Brussels fills us in. Weekends of 11&12, 18&19 and 25&26 March https://www.banad.brussels/en/
2m Mar 05, 2023
2m
Johnny Hallyday - the Exhibition
Belgian French rocker extraordinaire Johnny Hallyday had millions of die hard fans across the French speaking world. Now Johnny Hallyday the Exhibition brings his story and career to life in an exhaustive show. François Henrard, Director of Projects for Tempora tells us what we can expect. Through 15 June, Brussels Expo https://www.johnnyhallydaylexposition.com/ (https://www.googleadservices.co...
2m Feb 26, 2023
2m
Atomium - Restart/Centrale
Using the interiors of the Atomium as a canvas, the artists' collective Visual system has sculpted two very different and spectacular light and sound  environments, RESTART, which is temporary, and CENTRALE, which is permanent. Collective member Pierre Gufflet explains the differences. www.atomium.be (http://www.atomium.be/)
2m Feb 19, 2023
2m
Anima Festival
With the 42nd edition, Anima, Brussels' highly respected animation film festival is back completely live and in person. Co-Director Karin Vanderydt tells us all about the myriad screenings and special events taking place. www.animafestival.be (http://www.animafestival.be/)
6m Feb 12, 2023
6m
Peter Lindbergh
Credited with the invention of the concept of supermodels, Peter Lindbergh was one of the most respected fashion photographers. Untold Stories, the current exhibition at the Espace Vanderborght offers a unique perspective on his work, covering the totality of his career through photos, videos and very large formats. It's a unique show because Peter curated it entirely on his own. We spoke with ...
4m Feb 06, 2023
4m
The Gardens of Jules Buyssens
Jules Buyssens was one of the most prolific and respected landscape architects in Europe in the first half of the 20th century with over one thousand projects in Belgium and in France, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and Switzerland. CIVA has put together an exhibition: Picturesque:Jules Buyssens Landscape Architect. Curator Ursula Wieser Benedetti tells us about ...
8m Jan 29, 2023
8m
Brafa
Now presenting its 68th edition at Brussels Expo, the Brussels Art Fair (BRAFA) is ranked as one of the top five art and antiques fairs in the world. 130 leading galleries from 15 countries  are represented, including 13 galleries new this year. On display will be furniture and art objects from the Middle Ages to the present, ancient and modern painting, contemporary art, design, sculpture, tri...
4m Jan 29, 2023
4m
Maison Hannon
The Art Nouveau masterpiece that is the Maison Hannon is being meticulously restored in all its facets, stained glass, ironwork, woodwork, stonework and painted murals. Phase 1 of the restoration will be complete June 1st when in collaboration with the Horta Museum an exhibition of the work of numerous Art Nouveau artists will open. But in the meantime on Sundays January 15 & 22 (reservations r...
4m Jan 08, 2023
4m
Manneken Pis's Quebec costume
It's been fifty years that  there has been a Québec Delegation in Brussels where it promotes Québec in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and the European institutions, To celebrate, the delegation has offered the Manneken Pis his 1103rd costume. At the inaugural event we spoke with Geneviève Brisson, Delegate General, and with Jean-Claude Poitras, the artist who designed the costume.
5m Dec 13, 2022
5m
Isabel Ravet - Still Life
Isabelle Ravet is a rare contemporary artist in that she exclusively paints still lifes. This month she will be opening her Ixelles studio to the public. She spoke with us about her inspiration. http://isara-finearts.be/en/accueil-english/
3m Dec 04, 2022
3m
Brussels Artisan Workshops
Brussels is full of artisans creating and selling a variety of products. Thanks to a collaboration between the City, website Wecandoo and 50 artisans, you can participate in a workshop and go home with a handmade bag, chocolate, perfume or other creation that you made yourself. Alderman Fabian Maingain, organizers Katia Jacques-Serres and Edouard Eyglunent and artisan Kristina Zouein tell us ho...
4m Nov 30, 2022
4m
KBR Museum - the black manuscripts
The Dukes of Burgundy's collection of several hundred illuminated manuscripts and books are the foundation of the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) but because of the deleterious effects of light on these priceless works of art they can only be exposed for 6 months at a time. The current rotation of manuscripts is a very special one in that the centerpiece of the exhibition is a black manuscript o...
5m Nov 30, 2022
5m
Brussels Cultural Guide 2023
The Brussels Cultural Guide 2023, also known as the Cultural Hotlist 100 is out with its highlighting of one hundred of the more than 25,000 events that take place every year in Brussels. The guide is published by the Fondation pour les Arts/Stichting voor de Kunsten and Director Guy de Bellefroid lets us in on what we can't miss next year.
2m Nov 20, 2022
2m
Ars Musica festival - Big Science
Ars Musica is one of the most important international contemporary music festivals.  From 18 November to 2 December, the 32nd edition is entitled Big Science and explores the relationship between music and science. Director Bruno Letort tells us what to expect. https://www.arsmusica.be/node/2022
5m Nov 13, 2022
5m
Shin Hanga: The New Prints of Japan 1900-1960
The Royal Museum of Art and History has an exceptionally well preserved collection of Japanese woodblock prints dating from before the 20tth century, and presented an exhibition selected from its collection in 2016-2017 which had a huge success.  However the museum has a very small collection of Shin Hanga which are the prints that were produced during the renaissance of the artform in the firs...
5m Nov 07, 2022
5m
On Display
The Design Museum Brussels' current show On Display is an overview of retail store design from the end of the 19th century to the very beginning of the 21st century. Curator Benjamin Stoz explains how these ephemeral interiors were an important area of experimentation that had a tremendous impact on architects' more permanent work.
2m Nov 07, 2022
2m
Cirque WTP
Cirque WTP's  (World Top Performers) shows sell out wherever they perform. We will get our chance to experience the magic as it is coming to Brussels to the Cirque Royal for the last four days of 2022 and the first day of 2023. Troupe member Asia Tromler tells us all about it. www.cirque-royal-bruxelles.be (http://www.cirque-royal-bruxelles.be/)
4m Oct 26, 2022
4m
Dirk Frimout - the first Belgian in space
This weekend Brussels is a top destination for science and technology as the I Love Science Festival takes place in sheds 1 and 2 at Tour & Taxis and in special science trucks parked by the sheds. There are dozens of activities offered in entertainment, workshops, exhibitions, VR experiences, labs and lots more for all ages. Belgian astronaut Dirk Frimout was on hand to answer questions and we ...
3m Oct 16, 2022
3m
Kinshasa at Kanal
While Kanal-Centre Pompidou, Brussels'  new Museum of Contemporary Art is being built in the old Citroën factory, a space across the canal that used to be a nightclub is now K1, the temporary Kanal-Centre Pompidou. It is hosting its first show, Kinshasa (N)tonga in which various Kinshasa artists use various media to show us their city and how they live it. Curator Estelle Lecaille explains. Ope...
3m Oct 10, 2022
3m
Fondation A Stichting: Women's Perspectives
To celebrate its tenth anniversary the A Foundation is presenting Women’s Perspectives, the work of 19 women photographers on four continents and in a number of different decades of the 20th and 21st centuries, offering a startling array of subject matter and techniques. For only the second time in its ten years, the photos on display come from founder Astrid Ullens de Schooten Whettnall’s pers...
4m Oct 04, 2022
4m
Belgium’s smallest beguinage in Anderlecht re-opens after renovation
Zahava Seewald, director of Anderlecht's Municipal Museums brings us up to date in regards to the complete restoration of Anderlecht's tiny béguinage and what the visitor can expect to see during the next few months before the completely reimagined museum is reinstalled next year. www.erasmushouse.museum (http://www.erasmushouse.museum/)
4m Sep 25, 2022
4m
Brussels' Flower Carpet 2022
The biennial event which is the flower carpet on the Grand' Place will be  back this summer. Flowers are very important to Belgium culturally and economically as Belgium is the 7th largest flower exporter in the world . Filip Fontaine, general director of VLAM, Flanders’ Agricultural Marketing Board, tells us why this is the case. www.flowercarpet.be (http://www.flowercarpet.be/)
3m Jun 26, 2022
3m
Argos: When The Angels From Above
Argos presents an unusual group show, When the Angels from Above featuring an international selection of artists. The focus on spirituality and healing revisits legendary gay cruising grounds, experimentation with psychedelic drugs and traditional medical practice in an animist community.  Founded in 1989, the arts space located in an industrial building in the Quais neighbourhood, was created...
3m Jun 26, 2022
3m
BRIFF
After two years of pandemic disruption the Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) is back to its original late June time slot for a fifth edition with a rousing program of comedic zombies, living icons of European cinema, a new generation of French directors, newly restored hidden gems of the Italian cinema of the Fifties and Sixties about love and sex, international and national competit...
5m Jun 19, 2022
5m
Brafa art fair
BRAFA, the Brussels Antiques and Fine Art Fair has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1956. It is now one of the art and antiques sector’s top 5 fairs. 115 leading galleries from fifteen countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and the USA - 40% Belgian and 60...
5m Jun 19, 2022
5m
The Coudenberg in 3D
Coudenberg Palace was situated above Brussels for 800 years. It was the palace of the Emperor, the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, it was considered the most beautiful  European palace and gardens until it burned down in the beginning of the 18th century, and was left in ruins by the Austrian authorities for 40 years after which they built the Royal Quarter on top of the ruins. Those ruins are...
4m Jun 08, 2022
4m
Renovating Gaasbeek Castle
The major restoration of Gaasbeek Castle is nearing its end. Closed for over two and a half years, the interiors of the castle are almost complete after which the furniture and artworks will be reinstalled with a new scenography. Architect Barbara Pecheur and director Luc Vanackere tell us what the project entailed. www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be (http://www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be/)
5m Jun 01, 2022
5m
Zinneke Parade 2022
Created for Brussels European Capital of Culture in 2000, the Zinneke Parade has become a mainstay of the city's cultural landscape. Every two years two dozen Zinnodes (think of the Krewes of New Orleans' Mardi Gras) rally around a theme (after such themes as Water, Disorder, Temptation, Fragility, Illegal and Wolves! this year's theme is Trompe l’oeil) and create an unforgettable, entrancing, ...
4m May 17, 2022
4m
JEM Puppet Festival
JEM, the most international of puppet festivals is back in Brussels with a sixth edition of thirty shows from twelve countries for five consecutive weekends starting 7 May. And there are two last minute additions: There’s Three, a puppet company from Ukraine that has travelled to Brussels to present Little Duck, an interactive show . All the proceeds from the two performances of Little Duck wil...
4m May 13, 2022
4m
Centenary of Brussels' garden cities
Among the events celebrating the centenary of the garden cities of Brussels, CIVA is holding an exhibition focussing on Le Logis-Floréal, one of the 25 garden cities built around Brussels. Curator Yaron Pesztat explains the hows and whys of this particular form of urban planning. Until 26 June. https://civa.brussels/en
5m May 02, 2022
5m
Panorama Festival
The Festival Panorama is uncovering the Mont des Arts' secrets and hidden gems. Isabelle Vanhoonacker, Vice President of the Mont Des Arts Association tells us what they have in store for us. https://panoramakunstberg.be/en/
3m Apr 22, 2022
3m
Brussels Short Film Festival
The Brussels Short Film Festival is celebrating its 25th edition with a retrospective of the best of the past and look forward to the best of the latest. Co-founder Céline Masset tells us all about it. http://www.bsff.be/en
5m Apr 22, 2022
5m
Alex Joseph
California native, award-winning Brussels chef Alex Joseph entered the pandemic with one restaurant and came out of the pandemic with two restaurants. We hear from him and from Fela Herzog, the chef at Alex's new restaurant. http://www.rougetomate.be/ https://joseph-resto.com/
4m Apr 03, 2022
4m
Brussels' best prawn croquette competition
The third edition of the Best Prawn Croquettes in Brussels competition pitted 19 chefs with food establishments (restaurant, canteen, food counter or food truck) in the Brussels region against each other for bragging rights for the year. We hear from organiser Olivier Marette of Visit Brussels, jury member food writer Caroline D'Hont and Sofitel chef Gabriele Petrucci. After a blind tasting whi...
3m Mar 27, 2022
3m
Kanal's first acquisitions arrive
Recently, the yet to open KANAL - Centre Pompidou Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art presented its first acquisitions. Jennifer Beauloye, Collections & Research Manager for the museum explains how they are building their permanent collection. www.kanal.brussels
4m Mar 20, 2022
4m
Fondation Frison Horta
Nupur Tron, founder of the Fondation Frison Horta brings us up to date on her ongoing restoration of the Victor Horta designed Hôtel Frison. https://www.foundation-frison-horta.be/
5m Mar 14, 2022
5m