Brussels, the capital of contemporary art
According to the American travel magazine Travel + Leisure, today our capital can easily compete with London, Paris, Berlin and New York. In recent years the Brussels art scene has considerably expanded with the opening of approximately sixty foreign galleries and the launch of high-profile cultural events, such as Art Brussels, the annual fair for modern art that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The magazine compares Brussels to various other cultural and artistic destinations and determines several reasons for our capital's appeal. The first is probably the central location of Brussels, in between Paris, London, Amsterdam and Cologne. For several years now art collectives, institutions and more and more individuals are opening exhibition spaces which right now are regarded as the most interesting to visit. The significant increase in the number of international galleries that have established themselves in the capital and the many collectors constantly searching for the newest works, also explain why Brussels nowadays is an important centre of contemporary art. In April the city is buzzing of art life like never before, with no less than 3 fairs and many fringe events.
Art Brussels, the most important and oldest art fair, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016, recently closed its doors. As every year it attracted almost 30,000 visitors, one-third foreign, countless art collectors and many curious visitors who wanted to know what is currently happening in the art world. Art Brussels is currently seen as one of the most interesting fairs, a must for art lovers all over the world.
But there is more. The magazine also attributes the artistic appeal of the capital to the many art collectors in our small country, possibly the largest number per square kilometre worldwide. They are often described as real art lovers, who want to thoroughly understand both the artist and his work. Last but not least, the foreign artists are attracted by the multilingualism of the capital. Brussels, where Dutch and French speakers live together in the capital of Europe, derives its riches from a subtle cultural mix, which distinguishes the city from other capitals. In London most people speak English, in France French, but in Brussels the Flemish, Walloons and foreigners from all over the world together guarantee a dynamic mix of ideas and the open-mindedness required to be an artist.