The Royal Museums of Art and History will be open late and for free all weekend during the Brussels Festival of Light (Bright) as part of a kick-off for a whole series of events on the site.
Following the example of Museum Night Fever, the Royal Museum of Art and History will open its doors free of charge until 22:00 to allow spectators during the four nights of the Bright Brussels Festival this week. The festival kicked off on Thursday and until Sunday evening will see two key neighbourhoods in the capital – Royal and the European Quarter where the park is located – light up.
Visitors can admire and rediscover the museum's collections, including the Pavilion of Human Passions. This will foreshadow the programming of the "Horizon 2030" project and aims to bring this to the public attention.
Kicking off series of events
In 2030, the Kingdom of Belgium will celebrate its 200th anniversary and to mark this occasion, Parc du Cinquantenaire, one of Brussels' crown jewels, is being transformed to become an improved meeting place.
"The collaboration between the Bright Festival and the Royal Museums of Art and History gives us a glimpse of what the site will offer in the coming years, in the run-up to Belgium's bicentenary in 2030: a dynamic, reimagined museum offering with something for everyone," said Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investment, responsible for Science Policy.
Light projections on the Arcades du Cinquantenaire. Credit: Belga/ Timon Ramboer
He added that, from spring 2024 until the end of the summer, the park will host a range of events. This includes the usual activities such as the 20km of Brussels and the National Holiday celebrations on 21 July, but also new events based on heritage, scientific research and culture such as exhibitions, workshops, lectures and moments of relaxation.
"The Horizon 2030 programme will bring Brussels residents together around various cultural events. This historic location, in the heart of the European quarter, will also help our capital city shine during Belgium's European presidency," said Philippe Close, Mayor of Brussels.
