Mima to become new music hub, opening 2 October

A brand-new music venue will open in Brussels in the former Mima building on 2 October with an opening weekend of listening sessions, a music exhibition, concerts and DJ sets.

Jam Hotels, the building’s owner, and the Volta music centre plan to then organise weekly concerts at the site and offer rehearsal rooms, production facilities and shared workspaces spread over four floors for artists.

“We’ll start the first three months with an exhibition by Yaqine Hamzaoui. In November, there’ll be an exhibition featuring sound installations,” said Arne Huysmans of Volta.

“For the concerts, we’re targeting young talent, but also artists who are already recognised. This includes both national and international artists.

"Above all, Volta wants to play the role of facilitator: as a centre, we want to grow alongside the needs of the people of Brussels."

Named "Jam Sonor powered by Volta", the site will also host industry meetings and, from 2027, events on the building’s rooftop.

“Preparations have been under way since October last year,” Huysmans said.

“Volta is always on the lookout for a permanent venue, as we often operate from temporary locations. The old Belle-Vue brewery is a stunning building, and the aim is to build a truly sustainable project here.

"We have therefore invested a great deal of time in the spaces and the infrastructure, which are of a very high standard."

According to Volta and Jam Hotels, there is a great need for music-focused spaces within the Brussels scene.

“As the social and economic pressure on artists continues to mount, affordable, high-quality infrastructure for rehearsal, production and performance is becoming increasingly important,” Jam Hotels said in a statement.

The organisers hope the new music hub will give artists the opportunity to “take risks and experiment, so that they can develop a sustainable artistic practice”.

The music hub replaces the Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (Mima), which closed its doors in January 2025 citing falling visitor numbers.

The closure came as a surprise, as the museum had initially planned to expand further.

The decline in visitors is said to have begun after the Quai du Hainaut was closed to traffic due to roadworks. The building’s owner, Jean-Paul Pütz - chief executive of the Nelson Group, to which Jam Hotels belongs - accused the municipality of Molenbeek of showing too little interest in the museum.

Following the closure, the building was used for various temporary purposes including the French-speaking Red Cross’s book fair and the Brussels Pride Museum. Several temporary exhibitions were also held there.