Exhibitions
Flanders is known for its art cities and the exhibitions highlighted below are top exhibitions or permanent collections that have an International appeal.
For information on events, processions and other happenings please refer to the Events, Events 2008 or Future Events pages in the menu bar on the left.
If you still don't find specific dates of an event or exhibition that you are looking for then please contact trade@visitflanders.co.uk
Flemish Art Collection
Permanent
Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Groeninge Museum Bruges, Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
Together these three museums form the permanent Flemish Art Collection which portrays the history of fine arts in Flanders from the 15th century to the 20th century. Their collections have known a parallel historical growth and they complement each other perfectly. With over 6500 paintings and 40,000 drawings, visitors can explore over 500 years of art history alongside regular exhibitions throughout the year. A combi-ticket can be purchased for the 3 museums and is valid for 3 years. Individuals pay €12. For further information contact: www.flemishartcollection.be
download or order leaflets
Permanent
Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Groeninge Museum Bruges, Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
Together these three museums form the permanent Flemish Art Collection which portrays the history of fine arts in Flanders from the 15th century to the 20th century. Their collections have known a parallel historical growth and they complement each other perfectly. With over 6500 paintings and 40,000 drawings, visitors can explore over 500 years of art history alongside regular exhibitions throughout the year. A combi-ticket can be purchased for the 3 museums and is valid for 3 years. Individuals pay €12. For further information contact: www.flemishartcollection.be
download or order leaflets
Man Culture War
01 May to 07 Sept 2008
Ypres, In Flanders Fields Museum
This exhibition examines the different cultures which had some sort of involvement in the First World War. Firstly, it looks at the cultures which took an active part in the conflict, some voluntarily, others through necessity. At the front in the Westhoek and in the hinterland, traces of at least fifty(!) different cultures have been found, among them groups from the colonies of superpowers like France and Great Britain. The Man – Culture – War exhibition endeavours to provide a complete overview of all these different cultures during that period in history. At the same time it explores some of the concepts and customs relating to war and peace that typify or typified the so-called ‘primitive’ participants in this war. These are juxtaposed with the ideas and practices of its so-called ‘civilized’ perpetrators. The intention is to hold up a mirror to our attitudes and actions with regard to war and peace today.
Tickets cost €5 (exhibition) or €8 (museum + exhibition) per person. Specials prices available for groups.
For further information contact: 0032 57 239 220, flandersfields@ieper.be , www.inflandersfields.be
download or order leaflets
01 May to 07 Sept 2008
Ypres, In Flanders Fields Museum
This exhibition examines the different cultures which had some sort of involvement in the First World War. Firstly, it looks at the cultures which took an active part in the conflict, some voluntarily, others through necessity. At the front in the Westhoek and in the hinterland, traces of at least fifty(!) different cultures have been found, among them groups from the colonies of superpowers like France and Great Britain. The Man – Culture – War exhibition endeavours to provide a complete overview of all these different cultures during that period in history. At the same time it explores some of the concepts and customs relating to war and peace that typify or typified the so-called ‘primitive’ participants in this war. These are juxtaposed with the ideas and practices of its so-called ‘civilized’ perpetrators. The intention is to hold up a mirror to our attitudes and actions with regard to war and peace today.
Tickets cost €5 (exhibition) or €8 (museum + exhibition) per person. Specials prices available for groups.
For further information contact: 0032 57 239 220, flandersfields@ieper.be , www.inflandersfields.be
download or order leaflets
Oudenaarde 1708. A town, a king, a general
11 May to 26 Oct 2008
Oudenaarde, Town Hall and various other locations
On July 11th 2008 it will be precisely 300 years since one of the most decisive battles in European history took place near Oudenaarde, when the army of the Sun King Louis XIV fought against other European powers under the leadership of the British General, the 1st Duke of Marlborough. 180,000 soldiers took part in the battle, which effectively ended Louis’ attempts to dominate Europe.
Oudenaarde commemorates this military encounter in 2008 with an exhibition which tells the story of the battle: the triumph of the Duke of Marlborough, the miscalculation of the French, the suffering of the soldiers… The star attraction of the exhibition is the city model of Oudenaarde designed by the celebrated engineer Vauban. This show-piece goes on display outside France for the first time ever.
Moreover, on July 11th 2008 whole battalions will once again pitch their tents around the city and Europe’s best re-enactment groups will stage the battle as faithfully as possible. It will be the first time a re-enactment is organized on such a large scale in Flanders.
For further information contact: www.oudenaarde1708.be
11 May to 26 Oct 2008
Oudenaarde, Town Hall and various other locations
On July 11th 2008 it will be precisely 300 years since one of the most decisive battles in European history took place near Oudenaarde, when the army of the Sun King Louis XIV fought against other European powers under the leadership of the British General, the 1st Duke of Marlborough. 180,000 soldiers took part in the battle, which effectively ended Louis’ attempts to dominate Europe.
Oudenaarde commemorates this military encounter in 2008 with an exhibition which tells the story of the battle: the triumph of the Duke of Marlborough, the miscalculation of the French, the suffering of the soldiers… The star attraction of the exhibition is the city model of Oudenaarde designed by the celebrated engineer Vauban. This show-piece goes on display outside France for the first time ever.
Moreover, on July 11th 2008 whole battalions will once again pitch their tents around the city and Europe’s best re-enactment groups will stage the battle as faithfully as possible. It will be the first time a re-enactment is organized on such a large scale in Flanders.
For further information contact: www.oudenaarde1708.be
It's not only Rock 'n' roll Baby!
18 Jun to 14 Sept 2008
Brussels, Centre for Fine Arts, Bozar
Visual art and (rock) music are complementary, as history has abundantly illustrated with movements and artists like Dada, Fluxus, John Cage, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Mike Kelly, Martin Kippenberger and others. Art schools tend to be less academic than music schools and have always supported this phenomenon. Consequently, many rock icons, including John Lennon, Keith Richards, Bryan Ferry, David Bowie and Eric Clapton, have used art as a springboard. Numerous musicians have also gone a step further and turned their hand to visual art, thereby giving their music a certain sensitivity and stratification.
To mark the 33rd anniversary of Rock Werchter, Bozar is organizing an exhibition about rock and art. It reveals the little-known visual side of some of the most popular rock and pop bands and provides insight into the role played by visual art in the creation of their music. On display you will see works of art by some twenty bands and musicians from the 1970s through to the present day. Brian Eno, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Jonsi Birgisson (Sigur Ros), Antony and the Johnsons, Fisherspooner, Pete Doherty and many others have been invited to take part.
Throughout the exhibition the Centre for Fine Arts will also provide the venue for a programme of live activities, including poetry readings, performances and unplugged concerts. A book of interviews with the participating artists and an explanation of their work is also in the pipeline.
For further information contact: www.bozar.be
18 Jun to 14 Sept 2008
Brussels, Centre for Fine Arts, Bozar
Visual art and (rock) music are complementary, as history has abundantly illustrated with movements and artists like Dada, Fluxus, John Cage, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Mike Kelly, Martin Kippenberger and others. Art schools tend to be less academic than music schools and have always supported this phenomenon. Consequently, many rock icons, including John Lennon, Keith Richards, Bryan Ferry, David Bowie and Eric Clapton, have used art as a springboard. Numerous musicians have also gone a step further and turned their hand to visual art, thereby giving their music a certain sensitivity and stratification.
To mark the 33rd anniversary of Rock Werchter, Bozar is organizing an exhibition about rock and art. It reveals the little-known visual side of some of the most popular rock and pop bands and provides insight into the role played by visual art in the creation of their music. On display you will see works of art by some twenty bands and musicians from the 1970s through to the present day. Brian Eno, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Jonsi Birgisson (Sigur Ros), Antony and the Johnsons, Fisherspooner, Pete Doherty and many others have been invited to take part.
Throughout the exhibition the Centre for Fine Arts will also provide the venue for a programme of live activities, including poetry readings, performances and unplugged concerts. A book of interviews with the participating artists and an explanation of their work is also in the pipeline.
For further information contact: www.bozar.be
Fifties Silver: Belgian silver c. 1958
30 Sept 2008 to 18 Jan 2009
Antwerp, Sterckshof Silver Museum
Fifty years after the Brusssels Expo in 1958, the Sterckshof Silver Museum is mounting its first ever retrospective of Belgian silverware and jewellery produced between 1950 and 1970.
For further information contact: 0032 3 360 52 52
30 Sept 2008 to 18 Jan 2009
Antwerp, Sterckshof Silver Museum
Fifty years after the Brusssels Expo in 1958, the Sterckshof Silver Museum is mounting its first ever retrospective of Belgian silverware and jewellery produced between 1950 and 1970.
For further information contact: 0032 3 360 52 52
Kantlijnen (Bruges and Lace)
14 Nov 2008 to 01 Mar 2009
Bruges, various locations indoors and out
Bruges has been associated with lace for hundreds of years. It is what tourists invariably buy when they visit Bruges. The Bruges museums house the valuable lace collection of Baroness Liedts and numerous other objets d’art which have a connection with lace. The rich tradition of lace-making has been alive in Bruges since the end of the fifteenth century and this exhibition will underline the age-old link between Bruges and lace. Mounted in several prominent museums, the exhibition will however present not only historical lace, but also contemporary and idiosyncratic lace creations and establish a link with contemporary art. Indeed, historical lace will conduct a dialogue with contemporary art, design and fashion. Moreover, a programme of music is being put together in cooperation with the Concertgebouw, covering patterns and serial composition in music through the centuries.
For further information contact: www.museabrugge.be
14 Nov 2008 to 01 Mar 2009
Bruges, various locations indoors and out
Bruges has been associated with lace for hundreds of years. It is what tourists invariably buy when they visit Bruges. The Bruges museums house the valuable lace collection of Baroness Liedts and numerous other objets d’art which have a connection with lace. The rich tradition of lace-making has been alive in Bruges since the end of the fifteenth century and this exhibition will underline the age-old link between Bruges and lace. Mounted in several prominent museums, the exhibition will however present not only historical lace, but also contemporary and idiosyncratic lace creations and establish a link with contemporary art. Indeed, historical lace will conduct a dialogue with contemporary art, design and fashion. Moreover, a programme of music is being put together in cooperation with the Concertgebouw, covering patterns and serial composition in music through the centuries.
For further information contact: www.museabrugge.be
Flemish tapestries from the Dukes of Burgundy, Emperor Charles V and King Philip II
21 Nov 2008 to 29 Mar 2009
Art Hall St Peter’ Abbey, Ghent
Flemish tapestries made in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries are a valuable part of our national heritage. With unparalleled technical skill, large Flemish weaving centres like Brussels, Oudenaarde, Mechelen, Bruges and Tournai produced the most magnificent tapestries, often to designs or ‘cartoons’ by famous painters. The tapestries reflect the revival of interest in classical antiquity which characterized the Renaissance.
Tapestries accompanied the Burgundian dukes, Emperor Charles V and King Philip II on their travels through Europe. These ‘mobile frescoes’ brought comfort, aesthetic pleasure and social prestige and also helped build the image of the dynasty, the state and the sovereign.
This exhibition brings together magnificent tapestries from the Spanish royal collection and from several Spanish private collections and the sixteenth-century tapestries from St Peter’s Abbey.
A suggestion for a visit is to combine this exhibition with a visit to the St Peter’s Abbey. Tickets cost €11 for individuals and €9.75 for groups. Of course there are other packages available so don’t hesitate to take a look at the website or to contact the organisation for further information.
For further information contact: www.gent.be/spa , info@boekjebezoek.be
21 Nov 2008 to 29 Mar 2009
Art Hall St Peter’ Abbey, Ghent
Flemish tapestries made in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries are a valuable part of our national heritage. With unparalleled technical skill, large Flemish weaving centres like Brussels, Oudenaarde, Mechelen, Bruges and Tournai produced the most magnificent tapestries, often to designs or ‘cartoons’ by famous painters. The tapestries reflect the revival of interest in classical antiquity which characterized the Renaissance.
Tapestries accompanied the Burgundian dukes, Emperor Charles V and King Philip II on their travels through Europe. These ‘mobile frescoes’ brought comfort, aesthetic pleasure and social prestige and also helped build the image of the dynasty, the state and the sovereign.
This exhibition brings together magnificent tapestries from the Spanish royal collection and from several Spanish private collections and the sixteenth-century tapestries from St Peter’s Abbey.
A suggestion for a visit is to combine this exhibition with a visit to the St Peter’s Abbey. Tickets cost €11 for individuals and €9.75 for groups. Of course there are other packages available so don’t hesitate to take a look at the website or to contact the organisation for further information.
For further information contact: www.gent.be/spa , info@boekjebezoek.be
City Visions
21 Mar to 21 Jun 2009
Mechelen
In 2009 Mechelen will have been an archiepiscopal city for four and a half centuries, an anniversary deemed worthy of celebrating with a large-scale cultural event. The sixteenth century was a period of change, friction and deep reflection. City Visions explores the expectations and visions for the city in the future with a varied programme inspired by the different meanings of 'vision': imagination, utopia and light. Mechelen wants to become 'Cultural Capital of Europe' in 2015 and City visions reinforces this ambition. Tickets will be available from 21 November 2008 at www.inenuitmechelen.be
For further information contact: www.stadsvisioenen.be
download or order leaflets
21 Mar to 21 Jun 2009
Mechelen
In 2009 Mechelen will have been an archiepiscopal city for four and a half centuries, an anniversary deemed worthy of celebrating with a large-scale cultural event. The sixteenth century was a period of change, friction and deep reflection. City Visions explores the expectations and visions for the city in the future with a varied programme inspired by the different meanings of 'vision': imagination, utopia and light. Mechelen wants to become 'Cultural Capital of Europe' in 2015 and City visions reinforces this ambition. Tickets will be available from 21 November 2008 at www.inenuitmechelen.be
For further information contact: www.stadsvisioenen.be
download or order leaflets
Rogier van der Weyden 1400|1464 - Master of Passions
20 Sept to 06 Dec 2009
M, Leuven
The exhibition focuses on the oeuvre of Rogier van der Weyden who, along with Jan van Eyck, was the Southern Netherlands’ most influential fifteenth-century panel painter. Van der Weyden was a pioneering artist whose name and fame extended far beyond local borders. His restrained, emotional and sensual visual language inspired numerous contemporaries working in a range of artistic disciplines.
‘Rogier van der Weyden, ca. 1400-1464 – Master of Passions’ will showcase masterpieces by Rogier van der Weyden but also by his contemporaries on loan from prestigious European and North American collections, thereby illustrating the great artistic significance of the master in Brabant and beyond. Tickets cost €9.
For further information contact: 0032 16 20 09 09, rogiervanderweyden@leuven.be, www.rogiervanderweyden.be
download or order leaflets
20 Sept to 06 Dec 2009
M, Leuven
The exhibition focuses on the oeuvre of Rogier van der Weyden who, along with Jan van Eyck, was the Southern Netherlands’ most influential fifteenth-century panel painter. Van der Weyden was a pioneering artist whose name and fame extended far beyond local borders. His restrained, emotional and sensual visual language inspired numerous contemporaries working in a range of artistic disciplines.
‘Rogier van der Weyden, ca. 1400-1464 – Master of Passions’ will showcase masterpieces by Rogier van der Weyden but also by his contemporaries on loan from prestigious European and North American collections, thereby illustrating the great artistic significance of the master in Brabant and beyond. Tickets cost €9.
For further information contact: 0032 16 20 09 09, rogiervanderweyden@leuven.be, www.rogiervanderweyden.be
download or order leaflets
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