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What's on this week: 16-22 February

22:22 15/02/2018
Brussels beer, indie films and second-hand clothes. Here's our pick for the week

Brussels was down to one brewery and now we’re up to six. The latest is the Ermitage Nanobrasserie just over the line in Anderlecht near the Gare du Midi. On Friday they are celebrating their latest beer, a double IPA called DIPA with a release party.
16 February, from 16.00

The Brussels Independent Film Festival (BIFF) is in full swing with 67 films offered for free, every evening until 18 February at the Cinéma Galleries. Also on Sunday, awards will be bestowed on filmmakers in seven different categories and these awards, in the shape of the Atomium are the first edible film awards ever given, having been created by master chocolatier Wim Vyverman.

Free Flying Films presents the fourth edition of a festival of Greek short films and documentaries, now entitled Greek Light. Six Greek directors will present their films from 15-18 February at Art Base Gallery downtown.

The Association du Patrimoine Artistique is a small art gallery in the Sablon which specialises in presenting Belgian art in its historical and social contexts. Their new show Les XX et la Libre Esthétique highlights the pre-Impressionist Belgian painters of the mid to late 19th century. As precursors they had a hard time gaining acceptance but we can fully appreciate the beauty of their work.
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 14.00-18.00 until 31 March

Cinéma Nova is screening Nada, a Seventies film noir by Claude Chabrol based on the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette, famous for his “Laissez bronzer les cadavres” (Let the Corpses Tan). His son Doug Headline will speak before the screening about the perils of bringing a novel to the screen.
17 February, 19.00

Starting next Wednesday, Flagey Piano Days brings you the international crème de la crème of classical and jazz pianists for 19 concerts.
21-25 February

On Sunday afternoon it’s The Brussels Dressing Room which bills itself as the largest second-hand clothing sale in Brussels, with 60 vendors selling from individual pop-up shops. For men and women, all the clothes are "second-hand, stylish and in good condition". Additionally a locally sourced, healthy gourmet lunch will be available.
Quai Fernand Demets 55, Anderlecht (Delacroix metro), 11.00-18.00

Sunday evening at Passa Porta, Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Jennifer Egan will be presenting her latest work, Manhattan Beach. Making good on her vow to never write the same book twice, this is a historical novel set in the New York City of the 1930s and 1940s in which the protagonist’s father mysteriously disappears.
18 February, 20.00

The only Victor Horta house in the Sablon has recently been purchased after years of neglect and is being restored from top to bottom by new owner Nupur Tron Chowdhry who is Goodwill Ambassadress of Art and Culture for India in Europe. Tours by appointment (20 people minimum) can be arranged at nupur@nupurconsulting.com. Currently the tour includes a black and white photo exhibition: The Maharanis.

Starting next Thursday (22 February) and lasting three days is Bright Brussels Festival of Light, back for its third edition. This year it will be taking place in the Sainte-Catherine, Quay, Beguinage and Dansaert districts with 10 light installations from French, German, Portuguese and Spanish artists. There’s video mapping, interactive light and sound, an ever-changing light cloud, coloured lasers, smoke machines, light in water, a light Manneken Pis, and an immersive sculpture composed of steel, sounds and holograms.
18.30-23.00

The Los Angeles-based artist Evan Holloway is back for his fifth exhibition at Xavier Hufkens. His sculptures stem from his interest in California’s contemporary culture and everyday objects, such as trees, plants and lamps. Holloway’s work aims to emphasis both qualities of individual human activity and the material experiences, in the sense of how physical objects are incorporated and assembled.
Tuesday-Saturday 11.00-14.00, from 17 February

At the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the work of René Magritte lives on. 50 years after his passing, his work still questions the views and minds of its audience, and continues to intrigue many modern and contemporary artists today. Over 150 paintings, sculptures, installations, drawing, photographs, films and archival documents will be on display from not only Magritte, but from other artists who have been influenced by his work.
From 18 February

The biennial festival In Movement is back in Brussels. In Movement combines creations, short forms and works of different styles that aim to show the commitment of choreographers. This year, the event will include performances from the Dame de Pic/Cie Karine Ponties dance company, as well as many other dancers and choreographers.
From 22 February

The Foire du Livre at Tour & Taxis promotes books, but also looks at the challenges of the future. More than 1,000 books will be hidden in different parts of Brussels. All you have to do to become a book-hunter is download the Neareo geolocation app. Each of the different hunting days are focused on a different Brussels neighborhood, so there will be one near you.
22-25 February

The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme are organising a photo exhibition “The Power of Democracy’ to raise awareness about the importance of democracy and its impact on development. The exhibition showcases the electoral assistance provided by the EU and UNDP in countries such as Armenia, Guinea, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A particular focus of the exhibition is on the support provided to women and youth to ensure their participation as both voters and candidates.
From 20 February, Place de l’Albertine, Brussels

Written by Richard Harris, Molly Dove