Our pick of things to do in Belgium this week – enjoy!

Brussels art fair frenzy

From 19 to 23 April Brussels

This week is definitely the highlight of the Belgian art calendar with Art Brussels, New York’s Independent fair, and a numerous of off fairs and side events coming to town. A veritable art marathon that perfectly reflects the vibrant Brussels art scene, offering everything from great gallery shows to art parties, talks, and more. Stay tuned for our upcoming guides that will lead you through this week’s art jungle, and follow us on Instagram for live updates.

Fashion meets design: MAD opening weekend

From 21 to 23 April Brussels

Brussels’ center for fashion and design is moving shop, and for the occasion MAD is throwing a huge opening party that lasts the whole weekend, offering a varied program ranging from an exhibition exploring Brussels’ vision on design to workshops and a special fashion walk through the hip Dansaert district. All info here.

Festival: BE-SWAP

From 19 to 22 April Brussels

Brussels cultural centers Brigittines and Beursschouwburg, one French- and one Dutch-speaking, team up for a festival of a different kind: for BE-SWAP the two are doing a house swap, aiming at finding answers to questions such as: Is there an artistic language barrier as such? Does art on the other side of the border look the same? How easy is it to find the way to ‘the other’? Find the full program here.

Magazine launch: Lechassis at Hypercorps

Friday, 21 April Brussels 

Lechassis is a support platform for emerging artists in Paris that runs an art space, puts up exhibitions, and publishes a magazine. You can discover the creative Parisians this weekend at Brussels’ Hypercorps, when they launch their next edition. Come by to have a drink, get your hands on a fresh copy, and have a look at Hypercorps’ current exhibition “L’odeur des sentiments”.

Opening: Unfold collective at Gouvernement

Thursday, 20 April Ghent

Unfold Collective are back! After a little detour through Copenhagen, where they exhibited at Blaa Galleri, the five-piece is inviting you to its second exhibition in Belgium, this time at Ghent’s Gouvernment (read our review of Unfold’s Brussels show here). The multifaceted, genre-crossing group show focuses on tracing the past, identity, time, and its relationship to memory.

Book launch: One To Many at Convent

Friday, 21 April Ghent

Convent is one of the newer kids on the block in Ghent’s growing art scene You can find out more about the project in our interview with its founders, or pass by this Friday when a bunch of KASK students will present a selection of works reflecting upon specific uses of copying, serialisation, codes, and production method both in a publication and an exhibition, accompanied by performances.

Concert: Phoenix at Trix

Saturday, 22 April Antwerp

Beloved French pop rockers Phoenix are about the release a new record (it’s about time!) but before the official launch they’re playing a few intimate shows to test the new material, one of them in Antwerp’s Trix.

Night out: Noord at Pekfabriek

Saturday, 22 April Antwerp

It’s a birthday affair: this weekend the  Antwerp-based Noord party series celebrates its 10th anniversary with a huge birthday bash at Pekfabriek. With Orpheo the Wizard, Sixsixsixties and others behind the decks.

Cover photo Camille Testard