Brussels hosts second edition of New European Bauhaus festival

Brussels is hosting the New European Bauhaus Festival from Tuesday. This unique festival, centred on Europe's innovation, features interactive sessions, workshops, demonstrations and artistic performances.

Until 13 April, there will be events in Cinquantenaire Park and the Art & History Museum in Brussels, as well as satellite events in various European and other participating locations. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will open the second edition of the festival and host other speakers, including Belgian prime minister Alexander de Croo and Belgian state secretary for Economic Recovery Thomas Dermine.

The festival aims to show how diverse creators, organisations and projects use the New European Bauhaus resources to put the European Green Deal into action. Panel discussions will explore ways to enhance urban quality of life, the impact of climate change on cities and architecture's role in climate action. There will also be a focus on sustainability in the European fashion industry.

The programme includes offerings from all over Europe. An installation from Ireland entitled Dawn is an immersive art performance by Irish artist Gillian O'Shea, who invites the audience to step outside their own reality into an alternative sensory-rich space.

THREADS, a performance piece from Portugal, explores the connection of traditional female polyphonic singing and textile work with wool in the search for a decentralised, local alternative to the current industrial textile model. Belgium presents several concerts, one of which will feature singer-songwriter Besac-Arthur on guitar and harmonica, accompanied by Zouratié Koné, a musician from Burkina Faso. Their music focuses on humanity's connection to nature.

The 2024 edition of the festival will feature a Special Recognition Award for Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery effort. Twenty outstanding projects and concepts by young talents from across Europe and, for the first time, Ukraine will receive awards.

The festival can be live-streamed on the event's homepage.
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