Art cannot save the world, but it can have a profound impact on our lives. For Karine, Gérard, Jacques and Nikolaus, this belief takes tangible shape through their commitment to Bozar and to fostering a vibrant, diverse and accessible cultural offering.

Karine: taking the artistic experience further

After a concert by Yuja Wang at Bozar, Karine had the opportunity to meet the pianist in the Patrons’ Lounge. She remembers her as “full of life and wonderfully open”. She also recalls meeting William Kentridge during a trip to the Festival d’Arles organised by Bozar. “We now feel we have a much better sense of his personality, his vision and his work.”

For Karine, being a member means taking the artistic experience beyond the stage. Meeting artists, visiting museums and private collections on specially organised trips, and sharing ideas with fellow art lovers all add new dimensions to her appreciation of art. “I enjoy chatting to people during the interval and hearing what they think of the programme, the artists and the experience as a whole.” Art becomes something to be shared, living on through encounters and conversations.

Gérard: broadening horizons

Gérard’s relationship with Bozar began with an interest in architecture and urban planning. Victor Horta’s palace, its place within Brussels and the relationship between a building and its urban surroundings first drew him in. Becoming a patron opened up a whole new perspective on the breadth of Bozar’s programme and the connections between artistic disciplines. “This commitment has allowed me to discover the diversity of its cultural programme and the links between different disciplines, which continue to enrich my life.”

Being a patron gives him the opportunity to explore new horizons while helping to sustain the cultural life he wants to see flourish. His commitment is also rooted in a firm belief: “Culture should have a central place in the city and in the lives of those who live here or pass through.” Supporting Bozar means helping to nurture this richness and ensuring that culture remains an integral part of city life.

Jacques and Nikolaus: championing culture

Jacques has known Bozar since childhood. Visiting with his mother, he discovered its exhibitions, including one devoted to the masters of American Pop Art in the early 1960s. Later, concerts by Ars Musica introduced him to Luigi Nono, Pierre Boulez and other contemporary composers. Since becoming a Patron Member in 2000, he has continued to be surprised and inspired by the programme. One particularly memorable experience was hearing Rachmaninov’s The Isle of the Dead, which brought to mind Arnold Böcklin’s painting, a work he has admired for years at the Kunstmuseum Basel.

For Jacques, championing culture is essential: “Culture is the mirror of our civilisation. If we don't defend it ourselves, who will?” Bozar has also brought him a rather more personal surprise: it was at a concert that he met the woman who would become his wife.

Having lived in Brussels for twenty years, Nikolaus is equally keen to help preserve a rich and varied cultural offering, spanning all artistic disciplines and accessible to everyone at affordable prices. Against a backdrop of shrinking funding and increasing politicisation in the cultural sector, he decided to make a commitment to Bozar. “By supporting Bozar, I feel I can make a difference.” For him, as for Jacques, supporting Bozar is a concrete way of contributing to the cultural vitality of Brussels.

What would you like to make possible through your support?

Whether it is meeting artists, discovering new disciplines, exchanging ideas or helping to sustain a rich and accessible cultural offering, everyone has their own reasons for supporting Bozar. Becoming a member allows you to take your experience of art further while playing an active part in the institution’s cultural life. It means helping to make possible the encounters, discoveries and artistic experiences that bring so much energy to Brussels.

Would you like to be part of it? Explore Bozar’s membership programme and join those who help keep culture thriving. We would be delighted to hear from you: maecenasrelations@bozar.be