Bruges to launch new art hall with spectacular opening weekend
Bruges will celebrate the opening of its new contemporary art hall, Brusk, in September with a festive weekend. Though exhibitions begin in 2026, the public can explore the building this autumn, with street theatre troupe La Machine and large-scale installations marking the occasion.
After nearly three years of construction, Brusk is ready to open. The new hall, next to the Groeninge Museum, is part of a broader cultural development project. By 2030, it will be integrated into a larger museum park in Bruges. The first exhibitions are set to launch in May 2026, but the architecture and concept will be on full display in September.
La Machine
One of the weekend's highlights will be the arrival of La Grande Araignée, a 13m tall, 37-tonne mechanical spider created by the French company La Machine. It will roam the city like a living work of art. "La Machine's visit is about more than just spectacle. It's a powerful symbol of the bold, unifying energy that Brusk brings to Bruges," said mayor Dirk de Fauw.
Inside Brusk, visitors will encounter a massive tape art installation by the collective Numen/For Use. Designed as a web-like structure, it can be crawled and climbed through. A soundscape by Bruges composer Patrick Hamilton will accompany the experience.
Elsewhere in the city, the Belgian collective Lyapunov will perform on a 400m slackline suspended 70m above the ground between the Belfry and the Church of Our Lady. On Sunday, performers will descend towards Brusk in a show combining tightrope walking, aerial dance and live music.
#FlandersNewsService | An artist's impression of the Brusk's exhibition hall © PHOTO MUSEA BRUGGE
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