What’s on this week: 22 to 28 November

Immerse yourself in Art Deco at one of the capital’s most stunning buildings. Echoes of Art Deco is not only a record of this interwar period full of geometric patterns, beautiful stained glass and stylish buildings. It also recounts ‘Art Deco’ life through originally decorated and furnished rooms complete with ‘roaring’ 1920s flapper dresses, gramophones and books. Do not miss the ceramics room, stunning paintings by Belgium’s Victor Servranckx, Marthe Donas and Anto Carte, and original corset advertisements “pour les moins minces”. With a period soundtrack to match and myriad extra events including Charleston dance classes, this is the perfect prelude to Brussels’ Year of Art Deco 2025. Until 25 May, Villa Empain, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67 (Ixelles)

Cheer on plucky heroine Elle Woods (Emma Quaedvlieg) in Brussels Light Opera Company’s production Legally Blonde – The Musical. As she heads to Harvard Law School in a bid to win back her ex, the smart and sassy student sets out on her own personal journey. The musical followed the famous 2001 film, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Neil Benjamin. The BLOC show, directed by Cath Howdle, showcases the catchy songs accompanied by a live orchestra directed by Steven De Mesmaeker. 21-24 November, Auderghem Cultural Centre, Boulevard Souverain 183-185 (Auderghem)

The legendary Impro for Dummies reunites for a one-off show in support of Community Kitchen. The non-profit social project plays a key role in a network of social and charitable organisations that supplyies hot meals to the city’s Red Cross Humanitarian Hub. You can also book dinner to enjoy before the show! 23 November 18.00-22.00, Holy Trinity Church, Rue Capitaine Crespel 29 (Ixelles). 

Travel to a fairytale world where music meets magic in the seasonal children’s concert The Duckling, the Prince and the Swan. Conducted by Gabriel Hollanders, the Bruocsella Symphony performs music by Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Mozart, Ewazen and Händel. For this year’s concert, they are joined by dancers, singers and the Academie van Sint Pieters Woluwe. 23 November, 16.00 (in Dutch) & 19.00 (in French);  24 November 14.00 (in English) & 17.00 (in French), W-Hall (Woluwe Saint-Pierre)

Art3F is an itinerant contemporary art fair that features thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs and other works of original art, often in the presence of the artists themselves. A special feature of its Brussels show is the central bar-restaurant with live jazz throughout the day. The democratic entry price (€10) helps make this a fun and artistic day out. 22-24 November, Brussels Expo, Place de Belgique 1

Christmas is coming early to Contretype – Saint-Gilles’ signature photographic gallery. For the second year running, it is presenting Pop Up – a perfect place for original presents. The packed programme features workshops masterminded by photographers and authors on topics including AI, image manipulation, documentary photography and photojournalism; a photo exhibition (from 5 December) of 40x40cm formats with a maximum price of €700; and, a special Photobook Fair (7-8 December), in collaboration with Brussels publishing house Macaronibook, with photographic publications from fanzines to artists’ books from Brussels, Flanders and France. 21 November to 15 December, Cité Fontainas 4A (Saint-Gilles)

Contemporary photo space Hangar opens a second exhibition, the group show Apparitions. A series of works by nine artists reflect the contemporary world and our relationship with the image. It joins the current solo project Atelier by photographer Stephan Vanfleteren, which showcases 12 years of his work in the intimate and light-filled space of his studio and the subject of his latest book. Until 21 December, Place du Châtelain 18 (Ixelles)

The Museum of Infinite Realities (MOIR) transforms its digital immersive experience into a Christmas Adventure for the holiday season. Young and old alike are invited to help Santa’s elves deliver all the Christmas gifts on time. As ever, the museum employs cutting-edge technology, including 5D holographic theatre, for the dazzling interactive show. 25 November to 5 January, Rue du Marché aux Poulets 32

Find the 20 countries of the Mediterranean basin at the Cinemamed film festival. While the lands are diverse, the region – which includes France and Italy – has produced some of history’s finest films. There are many standouts on the programme, such as 78 Days, Serbian director Emilija Gašić’s tale of a 1999 rural family making home movies so that the father – drafted into the NATO-Yugoslavian conflict – can see what he has missed. Another highlight is French-Algerian director Emma Benestan’s Animale (pictured), a supernatural fable about a woman in the male-dominated world of bull running  – and the bull that fights back. There are also special guests, concerts and workshops. 28 November to 6 December, across Brussels

Book now: Jasper Steverlynck One of Belgium’s finest singer songwriters presents his third album The Healing in a new concert tour ahead of its release in January. The Ghent musician – who boasts a beautiful and haunting voice - performs new songs in a grand tour that is already quickly selling out.  6 December 20.30, Centre Culturel d’Uccle, Rue Rouge 47 (Uccle)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

If you are dismayed that Christmas is being ushered in earlier and earlier every year, you’ll like Putteke Winter, which – as the name implies – is more about the season than the holiday. Taking place in forested recreation areas, it is an evening full of fire, food, light installations, live music and mysterious figures. Welcome the chill and the shadows of autumn – without having to buy presents. 25 November to 12 January, across Flanders

Fans of graphic novels and illustrations will find no better event than Grafixx, but even people who know little about these genres are fascinated by the artistic accomplishments they see here. International writers and illustrators offer talks, exhibitions, workshops, screenings and performances that reveal the rich world of tales told through drawings. The number of styles alone is astounding. 21-24 November, De Studio, Maarschalk Gérardstraat 4, Antwerp

Discover nature’s greatest secrets and how researchers at the Meise Botanic Garden are unravelling them one by one during Science Day, when the garden hosts a range of activities for all ages. Entrance is free, as are most events on Science Day, an initiative of Flanders’ research institutes. Muntpunt is the place to be in Brussels, where its wealth of activities include performing magic with light, playing a DNA virtual reality game or learning about a baby’s journey from conception to birth. Activities are generally in Dutch. 24 November, across Flanders & Brussels

Dinant citadel is illuminated this winter with the Garden of Lights – The Smurfs. The new outdoor light trail is a show for all the family, and is full of immersive and colourful installations that explore the magical world of the famous Belgian cartoon characters. Single and unlimited tickets available (from €20). Until 16 February, Chemin de la CItadelle 1, Dinant (Namur province)

Brace yourself for a whirlwind of daring artistic performances for kids, teenagers and the young at heart at Namur’s international Turbulences festival. Some 15 shows await, from Switzerland, France, Quebec, Senegal and Spain, as well as Flanders and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Among the highlights are a special family day with interactive workshops, and a new work by Bob Théâtre, WoooOOOoool, mixing theatre, music and textile creation and humorously exploring the fears around growing up. Until 4 December, Théâtre de Namur & Centre Culturel de Namur (CCN), Namur

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) Villa Empain Echoes of Art Deco ©Silvia Cappellari; Hangar, Cherry Airlines, 2024 ©Pascal Sgro; Christmas Adventure 2024 ©cMOIR; Jasper Steverlinck ©Fabrice Debatty; Grafixx ©Martha Verschaffel; Science Day ©)Meise Botanical Garden; Turbulences, Murmures des songes ©Damien Bourletsis