Brussels' Centre for Fine Arts Bozar will reopen its rooftop to the public on Wednesday, inviting locals and tourists to enjoy a cold drink or explore the various cultural activities hosted there.
Last summer, people queued up every night to make their way to this open space on top of one of the city's most beautiful buildings. Bozar announced it will once again open up its unique location on Wednesday 23 August, welcoming people to its rooftop bar catered by Café Victor, with beautiful views over the city centre.
"There, the public can enjoy refreshing mist showers, shade and a place to picnic or relax in deck chairs. From now on, you can also have a drink on the roof in the evening," Bozar said in a statement on Tuesday.
However, this season, referred to as 'On Top of That', the terrace will offer much more than a place to unwind and enjoy the views and occasional DJ set. "From 23 August to 17 September, all kinds of urban initiatives will take their place on the roof with a committed programme on the theme of urbanisation and the use of public space."
Slam poetry, screenings and workshops
The rooftop will, in the next month, be transformed into a stage for a free daily programme of concerts, lectures, film screenings and workshops, ranging from slam poetry performances and urban dance to musical talks and live music performances as well as DJ sets.
During the first week of 'On Top of That', Bozar is joining forces with Cultureghem, which will set up a mobile kitchen on the rooftop, cooking with surplus food to draw attention to the issue of food waste. Talks and photo exhibitions around this topic will also be organised. Every night, music talks and performances will be organised as part of the Midi-Minimes Festival, while on Sunday, the Detours Festival presents jazz music, a dance performance and a dance battle.
Cultureghem will be welcomed in the evenings of the second week, followed by music performances as Bozar will give Carte Blanche to the artists of Volta, Fifty Lab (a monthly showcase event featuring a Belgian and an international emerging artist at a Brussels venue), 54sound and Nuits Sonores.
Credit: Bozar
During the third week, the Carte Blanche series will continue with events hosted by club promoters Under my Garage, Nuits Sonores Brussels and Radio Vacarme. Furthermore, music will be accompanied by live graffiti artwork, a creative writing festival presenting an hour of genre-crossing prose, poetry about migration, sensuality and the languages of Brussels and live radio that will take over the rooftop.
Finally, the last week of the rooftop programme (13 to 17 September) will "flow into the festive Opening week of the new cultural season," reflected in the rooftop programme in the final days. Bozar will take you on a cinematic journey through three Spanish cities, while a panel discussion will analyse how public the public space in Brussels is.
A programme honouring Iranian women poets will be followed by a grand finale by the Belgian National Orchestra, which will close the Rooftop season by providing a music marathon of no less than six hours in alternating ensembles.
Entrance to the rooftop is free from Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to 23:00.
