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The role of the arts during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which devastated large parts of Europe, lies at the heart of an international exhibition at the House of European History.
The exhibition Bellum et Artes (War and Art) demonstrates how the warring parties used the arts as a propaganda tool and to show off their power. In the midst of a brutal war that cost millions of lives, works of art became ambassadors of peace. Bellum et Artes is part of a Europe-wide cooperation involving a dozen institutions from seven countries. The project is led by the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO) and the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Curator Jitka Mlsova describes what the visitor will experience.
https://historia.europa.eu/en/exhibitions-events/temporary-exhibitions
Through 12 January 2025

At the crossroad of art, curatorial practices, architecture, graphics, typography and cartography, the Belgian pavilion at the Venice Biennale features UNESCO recognised giants from Belgium, Northern France and Spain, 15 feet tall and made of wicker, fabric and papier-mâché, dancing and twirling thanks to dedicated giant carriers. The collective The Petticoat Government, a group of multidisciplinary artists has created this year’s Belgian participation and members of the collective explain what they are up to.
https://wbarchitectures.be/en/news/Belgian-Pavilion-at-Venice-Biennale-2024-/1384/

11 days, 3 competitions, 48 programs, 300 films, 76 screenings and much more! It's the 27th edition of the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) and it's back with much loved categories such as the all night session, the very very short shorts and the open air sessions, as well as some new categories.
Co-founder and director Céline Masset brings us up to date.
www.bsff.be
April 24th to May 4th

Have you ever hungered for a sensory experience that involves the enjoyment of artistic, intellectual, emotional and culinary experiences all at once? Check out Les Passagées, located in a 125 year old house built on a leafy square in Saint-Gilles by an architect as his home, which offers such an exploration in which the audience, artists and chefs all share, question, eat and exchange ideas around a series of dance, music, visual arts and culinary happenings. Artistic Director Alexandra Swenden and pianist Barbara Drazkov explain. May 1st through 7th  2024.
www.lespassagees.com
Photo Credit: Caroline Dejonghe

There's a new cozy, convivial club in the cellars of the Sheds at Tour et Taxis where one can get a bite to eat, have a drink and enjoy live music ranging from jazz, manouche and Brazilian, to classical. Founder Martine Renwart tells us what to expect.
https://www.lebaixu.com/en
Music courtesy of Henri Greindl

Brussels' native daughter Diane von Furstenberg has been back in her hometown for a number of different events in the last few months. She was honored by the city and there was a retrospective of her career at the Fashion & Lace Museum.
Most recently she inaugurated a new costume for the Manneken Pis; a pint-sized version of her iconic wrap dress cut from the dress she wore on the cover of Newsweek fifty years ago. Nicolas Lore, head of exhibitions and publications at the Fashion & Lace Museum, and Brussels Mayor Philippe Close talk to us about what DvF means for Brussels.
https://www.fashionandlacemuseum.brussels/en/