Photography in Brussels, a birthday in Ghent, a music festival in Perk, and more. See you there!

Photography: Pauline Miko at Recyclart

Thursday, 2 July, 20h00 Brussels

For quite a while now Brussels’ Recyclart has been hosting the series “Extra Fort”, a project giving the chance to photographers of all kinds to present their work in an intimate setting. At the center of the idea is a lively exchange with the artists themselves which lets you discover not only their images but also a bit of their approach and way of working. This week it’s the turn of young Belgian photography talent Pauline Miko, one you should definitely not miss. Check out her nostalgic, sensitive and powerful practice here. On the programme there’s also a concert by Guili Guili Goulag.

Opening: Philippe Van Wolputte at MuHKA

Thursday, 2 July, 19h30 Antwerp

Antwerp’s MuHKA invites you to a solo show of Belgian artist Philippe Van Wolputte, who’ll also give an artist talk at the opening as well as present his new book, a collaboration with Ghent’s Art Paper Editions. He undoubtedly has a special fascination for abandoned places and accordingly is well known for his site-specific interventions, which draw attention to unused spaces and at times chaotic urban planning while making them accessible again for a limited period of time.

Film festival: Galeries’ L’Heure d’Été

From 3 July to 9 August Brussels

The weather forecast for this week is looking exceptionally good, and just in time Cinema Galeries launches its annual outdoor film programme. If you want to see some great movies without missing out on these warm summer nights, L’Heure d’Été is for you. Hang out at the beach of Bruxelles Les Bains and dive into this fascinating collection of films focusing on the Canadian cities of Montréal and Québec, letting you discover these urban spheres through a selection of movies shot exactly there.

Exhibition: Danish Design at PULS Ceramics

Runs until 18 July Brussels

Brussels gallery PULS Ceramics, the city’s only gallery solely focusing on ceramics, celebrates its 15th birthday this year. Its founder, Danish-born Annette Sloth, is a ceramicist herself and thus a true expert on the subject. Currently you can discover two of her fellow countrymen at the gallery: Turi Heisselberg Pedersen and Lone Skov Madsen, two captivating Danish designers who show their contemporary take on an ancient craft.

Music festival: Paradise City

From 4 to 6 July Perk

Belgium’s already heavy festival scene gets another addition: Paradise City, which directly made it into The Guardian’s list of best festivals, kicks off its very first edition this weekend. Located in the beautiful surroundings of gorgeous castle Ribaucourt it combines a green conscience with grooves and beats. With your green card (not ticket!) you’ll have access to a junk food-free festival complete with insect burgers, green juices and composting toilets. By the way, it’s also Belgium’s first totally cash-free festival. Highlights of the two-day line-up include Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Art Department and Montevideo.

Birthday bash: Gouvernment turns 1

Saturday, 4 July, 20h00 Ghent

Ghent-based multidisciplinary art space Gouvernement opened its doors for the very first time a year ago, adding a much-needed dose of theatre, music, dance performances, exhibitions, workshops and more to the city’s growing art scene. This Saturday you can join in when Gouvernement blows out its first candle, inviting you to taste their newly launched beer and presenting works by artist Stanislas Lahaut.

Fashion: Been pop-up store at Bar Amorse

Sunday, 5 July Kortrijk

Sales are kicking off this week and for the occasion young Belgian brand Been is setting up a pop-up store at Kortrijk’s Bar Amorse. The perfect opportunity to get your hands on their colorful, quirky creations, from bathing suits to leggings and shirts. By the way, their print-heavy clothes have already been taken up by a number of musicians from Twin Shadow to Kiddy Smile.

Cover photo Murielle Victorine Scherre