On Thursday, 23rd April galleries in Brussels opened their doors from 6-9pm as part of Gallery Night in the City. As in previous years, Art Brussels happily offered shuttle services to travel between galleries. Art Brussels is committed to the Brussels Galleries and therefore is also proud to support the Brussels Art Days, taking place from 11 to 13 September 2015.Brussels is a vibrant city where creativity and an innovative vision are going together. Brussels has it all: fashion, architecture, design… Contemporary art occupies an increasingly prominent role. The strengths of the European capital are- quality artists, numerous collectors, an international audience and great exhibition spaces. This caused a new wave of Belgian and international galleries to settle in Brussels while other art centres, private collections and artists collectives are also opening their doors. Exhibitions, vernissages, fairs, conferences, debates, guided thematic tours and events offer visitors an excellent opportunity to experience intensely their passion for art, whether connoisseurs or enthusiasts.
In recent years Brussels has been experiencing its own cultural renaissance, most notably in contemporary visual arts. The city itself continues to attract the attention of new artists, galleries and curators internationally. It is this along with the array of respected cultural institutions that is reaffirming Brussels’ status as one of Europe’s most interesting and promising contemporary art cities. Brussels is steadily gaining the same critical acclaim as other established cultural metropolises. It offers easy access from neighbouring European cities, an increasing number of new artistic initiatives in the city and excellent culinary, design, music and fashion culture. The strong collector base in Belgium (Belgian and international) further reinforces the position of Art Brussels as one of the major, not-to-be-missed cultural events in Western Europe.
Since the creation of Art Brussels in 1968, the fair keeps lifting up its contemporary profile, with an equal mix of young and established galleries. The fair has never been so international: 33 countries are represented, with an increasing number of galleries (16) coming from New-York.
Centrale for contemporary art
This semi-industrial building of 1000 m2 was the City’s first electric power station. Today, the Centrale For Contemporary Art defines itself around the connection between art and society. Its vocation: the development, questioning and support of contemporary creation in the Brussels area as well as from an international viewpoint.
Vanhaerents Art Collection
The Vanhaerents Art Collection is a family collection of contemporary art that provides a substantial overview of artistic movements from the late seventies to the present-day. Its constant development enables creations by the most promising young artists of the moment to be presented alongside those of established artists who have inspired and influenced those new talents.
WIELS – Contemporary Art Centre
WIELS is as an international laboratory for the creation and distribution of contemporary art. Its programme focuses mainly on the visual arts but in interaction with other disciplines. WIELS has no permanent collection, but desire to present contemporary art in all its diversity and to put the public in touch and in dialogue with the latest developments and debates in the art world. The Centre holds several large-scale annual exhibitions. It also has an international artists’ residencies programme. This concentrates on innovation and carries out mediation and awareness-raising work to promote links between local and international players.
Art Brussels – April 2016
The unmissable annual date for contemporary art lovers in Brussels. 190 galleries from all over the world showing works by more than 1,000 established and emerging artists. Of particular interest to collectors, critics, journalists, and curators, but very much accessible to anyone interested in today’s art. A lot of events organized around the city.
Brussels Art Days – 11/12/13.09.2015
The Brussels gallery weekend, the start of the new contemporary art season.