Culture beat – 6 February

Celebrate the end of the week by chilling to the sounds of jazz duo pianist Piergiorgio Pirro and singer Elisabetta Maulo at Piola Libri this evening (Friday) at 19.00. The musicians explore the roots of jazz music and blues. Entrance free.

City-centre Flemish culture hub Beursschouwburg celebrates its 50th birthday this weekend with an energetic programme of contemporary theatre, exhibitions, music and dance. For 50 consecutive hours, the venue hosts a multidisciplinary marathon of events.

As the name suggests, the Affordable Art Fair - 6  to 9 February at Tour & Taxis – aims to make art accessible to everyone. Presenting more than 90 Belgian and international art galleries, the annual salon offers works priced between €60-60,000. It promises a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse range of original works, including paintings, prints, sculpture and photography. Each work is clearly and individually priced.

World music venue Muziekpublique stages two events on Saturday: first a family concert with Ghanian group Adesa and later in the evening, singer-songwriter Boubacar Traoré, from Mali. Adesa  performs a series of traditional fables, while Traoré, nicknamed Kar Kar, presents his latest blues album Mbalimaou.

With temperatures barely rising beyond freezing, find inspiration for holiday sunshine at the Salon des Vacances at Brussels Expo until February 9. Tunisia is the guest country and is showcasing its many attractions: archaeological, adventure, and relaxation. The fair includes a number of worldwide villages, including Asia, Caribbean, Nordic, Latin American and North American.

Aptly-titled for the season, but actually a reference to the pressing issue of global warming, the annual Burning Ice festival at Kaaitheater runs from 9 to 15 February. The 8th edition continues its mission to explore ecological sustainability, looking ahead to the next UN climate summit in Paris in November 2015. Here, the festival offers a wide-range of theatre, installations, talks and workshops. The majority of performances and events are in English.

The powerful and compelling Stabat Mater by Dvořák is performed by Orchestre des Champs-Elysées and Collegium Vocale Gent, under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe at Bozar on 9 February. As part of the arts centre’s Bohemian Rhapsody programme, the  ambitious project includes solos by Ilse Eerens, soprano, Renata Pokupic, mezzo, Magnus Staveland, tenor, and Florian Boesch, baritone.  Stabat Mater is one of Dvořák 's most powerful and most personal works, written following the death of his three children.

Love it or hate it, Saint Valentine  falls next weekend and @seven celebrates the occasion on Friday 13 February with a party at Bouche à Oreille. Designed for singles and couples, it promises a Lock & Key game, Love Lottery, as well as a dinner and live bands and DJ. Reservation by mail or call 0475 674 291.