The MARCH events masterlist
Architecture, design, art, music and more. There's lots going on in Brussels this month.
Happy Friday, friends — and happy almost March.
I’ve put together a list of recommendations, some cultural shenanigans for you to partake in this month.
Top of the list
Here are a few things that stand out to me as particularly interesting:
A selection of chairs from the collection of Galila Barzilai will be shown at MAD Brussels, the design center near Saint Catherine, starting March 14th. I’ve previously gone to visit her collection, as you can see above, and she owns some very interesting pieces. Plus, MAD developed a whole scenography around the pieces so I’m really looking forward to this one.
The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria, which just reopened last year following renovations, will be hosting a few concerts throughout the month — the first one including piano & violin this very Sunday. You can opt for the “curated three-course lunch” and a glass of champagne before the concert as well.
2025 is the Year of Art Deco, as designated by Brussels’ urban planning gurus, so the upcoming BANAD architecture festival will be highlighting buildings in this style throughout the city. Guided tours will be taking place on a few weekends in March, full program here.
Art
Brussels Museum Nocturnes is back. Every Thursday for a while, some museums will be open late (until 10pm). Next week, that’s the WIELS contemporary art museum.
‘Collectible,’ a fair dedicated to contemporary collectible design, is coming back March 13th.
Bozar has 2 new shows on & both are worth the visit: ‘When We See Us: A century of Black Figuration,’ which came to Brussels from Cape Town, and another one on the work of Flemish artist Berlinde de Bruyckere, who makes deeply realistic sculptures.
The Limited Edition Art Fair: showing prints, photographs, etchings and more with only a few copies available. March 21-23 at Villa Empain
I got Sexy Intergallatic Lady here at the Limited Edition Art Fair last year. I put a purple frame around her, which I think fits very nicely. No?
She reminds me of that movie Jane Fonda did in the 60s where she plays a super agent tasked with saving the universe by … the President of Earth. It’s a fun one.
Bonus tip: there’s another newsletter that sends out weekly lists of gallery shows specifically, openings included. I recommend signing up if you want to explore galleries more.
I’m putting together an issue on galleries (and some visits for us!) as well.
Design
Slowroom is a “slow and upcycling fashion fair” that will take place at MAD Brussels (the space showing Belgian design near St. Catherine) on March 7-9.
Brussels Design Market, the largest vintage design market in Europe, will take place at Gare Maritime at the end of the month, March 29-30.
‘Matching Seats,’ the show bringing together a selection of chairs in Galila’s collection as mentioned above, will kick off March 14th also at MAD.
Music
The Afropolitan Festival continues at Bozar through the weekend with lots of interesting events. I’m going to this concert — “a blend of jazz & hip-hop”— tomorrow evening.
Several concerts will take place at the Grand Hotel Astoria, the one that reopened last year: March 2nd, March 16th, 30th.
Shaboozey, who’s done that one song with Beyonce and went viral with that other song ‘Tipsy’ is apparently performing in Brussels on March 12th, which I find hilarious and extremely random.
Brosella Spring Festival: enjoy a selection of Belgian jazz and other music “in an intimate setting” starting March 22nd.
Klarafestival is a music festival putting on some interesting performances particularly at Flagey, March 20-30.
Architecture
Every year Brussels has an architecture festival, and it’s usually about Art Nouveau.
This year, it’s been 100 years since the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts where Art Deco was introduced to the world as a new style.
So the city’s authorities in charge of urban shenanigans have deemed this the Year of Art Deco. (Think Great Gatsby, his mansion would’ve been Art Deco)
The BANAD festival will take place over three weekends in March (15-16, 22-23, and 29-30) and will feature guided tours, access to some buildings usually closed to the public and so on. Full programme here.
If you want to familiarize yourself with the style, visit Villa Empain, itself an impeccable specimen of Art Deco architecture. There’s a good exhibit on the syle’s beginnings currently on show.
What else?
The Passa Porta literary festival is back at the end of the month.
Their programme is a blend of different activities, many of which bring well-known authors to Brussels for talks – like Jeanette Winterson, author of some novels and one absolutely brilliant memoir.
What have you been up to, Ana?
Aww, thank you for asking! I’ve actually joined a couple clubs that bring art lovers together through various events and community nights:
The Young Collectors’ Circle, which is based in Amsterdam but puts on about one event in Belgium per month, usually in Brussels or Antwerp. Membership is 100 euro per year and no, collecting art is not a pre-requisite.
The WIELS Club, through which you attend events, meet their artists in residence but also support their artistic programming. It’s 300 euro per year, they have events allllllll the time and often partner with other locations.
That’s it from me. Next, I’m preparing issues on galleries in Brussels, the Year of Art Deco and the European Capitals of Culture — does Molenbeek really have a shot?
Let’s find out.
Have a good weekend,
Ana