Bozar. On Top of That.

For the design, Brussels-based collective Every Island drew inspiration from what you see from rooftops in cities: towers, chimneys, metal constructions, flapping clothes on the washline. Scaffolding, printed scaffolding nets, and flags add a surreal touch to the building. In July, you’ll find shade, mist showers, and loungers on our roof for a holiday feeling at home. After a short summer break, Bozar will be home to the sociocultural riches of Brussels. Or rather: our roof will be. The rooftop will be transformed into an animated public square. All kinds of urban initiatives are taking over the space. They range from surplus food-based cuisine to classical, dub, slam, and hip hop to feminist and queer radio, and a literary tribute to Iranian student Mahsa Amini. The ‘takeovers’ flow into the opening week of the new ’23-’24 season with outdoor films and a debate on public space and share culture. Bozar is under construction for the summer, literally and figuratively. Will you help build the future?

The Every Island collective was founded in Brussels in 2021 by Alessandro Cugola, Caterina Malavolti, Damir Draganić, Juliane Seehawer, and Martina Genovesi. Their spatial research focuses on the role of performativity in architecture through the creation of ephemeral building projects and installations. Space becomes a design tool that defines an alternative common ground. By provoking a confrontation between the viewer and the work, Every Island “arrives at scenarios in which seeing, acting, and imagining become fundamental”. In 2022, the Brussels-based collective designed the scenography for the nuit des musées at the Mudam in Luxembourg. A group exhibition, A Cross, is currently running until 2 September at MAD Brussels, where they are one of eight architectural firms. Every Island and Andrea Mancini have also been selected for Luxembourg’s pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale.

An initiative with numerous Brussels partners

Founded by Eritrean-Ethiopian author Sulaiman Addonia, the Asmara-Addis Literary Festival (In Exile) (AALFIE) is a new pan-African literary event based on feminist principles.

Cultureghem's ambition is to recapture public space by creating thriving projects that connect people. Residing at Bozar for the first few weeks, it calls attention to the accessibility of healthy food by setting up a programme of cooking workshops based on surplus food, participatory lectures and games.

The Belgian National Orchestra is Bozar's resident orchestra. Since 2022, the orchestra has been conducted by chief conductor Antony Hermus and performs with world-class soloists such as Hilary Hahn and Leif Ove Andsnes. Furthermore, it does not shy away from innovative projects, such as recently with Stromae for his new album Multitude.

Since 1986, the Midis Minimes festival has presented concerts every summer at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. With a focus on chamber music, the festival presents renowned (inter)national artists.

Each summer, the Detours Festival presents an alternative version of urban art and exposes multiple facets of hip-hop. The interdisciplinary programme includes urban dance, music, performances and street art. On our rooftop, the organisation presents a dance performance and battle.

Founded in 2019, Fifty Lab is a three-day festival in Brussels packed with musical discoveries featuring emerging artists from Belgium and (far) abroad.

In 2004, the Flemish and Dutch governments jointly founded the Flemish-Dutch House deBuren as a cultural organisation and as a space for debate and reflection. deBuren offers a forum for culture, society and politics of the Low Countries from the heart of Brussels.

Radio Vacarme (RV) promotes female and queer artists in and around Belgium. RV is not only a web radio, but also a safe space for exchange, creation, artistic and cultural production, for women and people belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Lezarts Urbains is an association in the socio-artistic milieu of urban cultures with a focus on hip-hop and works with a host of partners to organise artistic projects and provide training and workshops.

FARMPROD is a collective that unites different visual artists around creative projects. At Bozar, the collective will create a graffiti artwork on the palisade of the Palace on rue Royale.

Under My Garage is a club collective representing the Brussels underground scene. 
This event series was founded in Brussels in 2013 to promote underground club music (with a strong UK influence) through itinerant parties.  

Nuits sonores Brussels is an annual festival and proposes 4 days of electronic culture, emerging music, and debate in between multiple cultural spaces. On this occasion, the festival is organising an evening dedicated to ambient music on Bozar rooftop. 

VOLTA is a workspace and venue for music. The organisation supports musicians in Brussels and around by offering programs such as artist residencies, concerts, workshops, educational courses and rehearsal spaces. 

54 SOUND is a complete handcrafted sound system by 54Kolaktiv and friends. The collective had been organising all kinds of parties with different genres in Brussels for almost 10 years. 

The Instituto Cervantes in Brussels is an institution that promotes the Spanish language and culture. It offers a wide range of Spanish language courses and cultural events that promote the exchange of the Spanish language between Belgium and the Spanish-speaking world. 

The international dancefilmfestival brussels is a dynamic showcase of dance films from around the world, bringing together the art of dance and the medium of film. Through screenings and interactive events, the festival provides a platform for artists and enthusiasts to engage with the unique creative expressions found at the intersection of dance and film. 

FdSS - Fédération des Services Sociaux brings together various social service organizations. It aims to promote collaboration, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge among its member organizations to enhance the delivery of social services and support vulnerable populations. 

The Belgian Short Film Agency was born from the will of many professionals (producers, directors, festivals) to promote and encourage the distribution of Belgian short films abroad, but also to represent and defend an entire sector.  

FIAN Belgium (Interpeller - Mobiliser - Lutter - POUR LE DROIT A L’ALIMENTATION) is a prominent organization dedicated to advocating for the right to food. Through mobilization, campaigns, and policy advocacy, FIAN Belgium works towards addressing systemic issues that contribute to food insecurity and promoting a just and sustainable food system for all. 

Jeugd en Muziek Brussel wants to support young musical talent in Brussels through programmes and initiatives. The organisation plays a crucial role in cultivating a vibrant and enriching musical landscape for the city's youth by organising activities in collaboration with education. 

Calame vzw is an inspiring youth, school and parenting initiative in Sint-Joost-ten-Node that helps vulnerable children, young people and parents, through school support/remediation, parenting, culture and citizenship education, to develop and live in dignity.  

Erasmushogeschool is a renowned institution of higher education in Brussels offering a wide range of courses. With an emphasis on practice-based learning, the college prepares students for successful professional careers. 

Som•m•e Of Us is a pluridisciplinary collective of independent Black cultural curators and community space organizers. They work together to bring two types of cultural events to the Black communities in Brussels and beyond: on the one hand, events focused on Black people and their experiences that they organize for institutional partners, and on the other hand, FUBU (For Us by Us) events of our own initiative in our own or other community spaces. 

This initiative is made possible by the National Lottery and its players.