Brussels in English (podcasts.brussels)

Ireland joined the European Union in 1973 and the Irish embassy estimates that there are between 10,000 and 15,000 Irish people living in Belgium. On the occasion of St Patrick's Day, we meet the Irish community of Brussels.

Started off as a German start-up in 2013, Freeletics is a body weight only training programme and a smartphone app. It consists of tailored workouts given by a virtual coach and a feed where users can follow and give each other a ‘clap clap’ for completed workouts. In a few years, the concept has become a global fitness movement followed by people forming a strong community. Common workouts are organised in a number of cities around the world, Brussels being no exception. n fact, the city is particularly active with a training scheduled every Sunday afternoon - all on a voluntary basis.

Co-Station Brussels is a startup that helps other startups. They aim to promote digital innovation and growth. One way they are doing that is with workshops for children and parents. We met their chief operating officer to find out more.

Molenbeek is blossoming with various initiatives in the wake of the bashing the borough underwent after the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks of late 2015 and early 2016. Brass'Art Digitaal Café is one of those initiatives. This project is taking three buildings, two of which have notorious pasts, (one was the site of a "sleep merchant"'s exploitation of destitute people and another was the residence of the Abdelslam brothers) and turning them into a community asset. There will be three spaces, a brewery café, called Brass'Art, where people can hang out, drink something and listen to music or enjoy a performance, Ranc'Art which will be a space for meeting and discussing, and Débrouill'Art which will be a space for training workshops (rancart being the French word for a date, and a débrouillard being a resourceful person). Sanae Jamaï, cofounder with Mohamed Ouachen, tells us about the project. Brass'Art Café Digitaal opens 22 March 19.00 https://www.growfunding.be/brassart https://www.facebook.com/brassartdigitaalcafe/?ref=ts&fref=ts

On the first anniversary of the Brussels attacks there will be an interfaith concert in Saint John the Baptist Church in Molenbeek. Concertmaster Dirk Seghers tells us "the idea is to let citizens of Brussels sing together as a testimony of cohesion and their support for all the victims." For the most part, the performers are not professionals but dedicated amateurs. Rayan, a Molenbeek youth who developed his talents through a local youth club will sing his version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. A group of women from the Dar Al Amal women's house will preform both Christian and Islamic music. Voces Desuper, a professional choir and the official choir of the Brussels Cathedral, will sing 20th century sacred and sacred-inspired music, and choir Al-Wassîla, part of a Sufi brotherhood will sing authentic Sufi songs. Wednesday March 22 8pm

What is Brussels Binder? An initiative to end the absence of women in the Brussels policy debate by building an online database of female policy experts and journalists. This database should be free and publicly accessible. We spoke to Jacqueline Hale on the day before their fundraiser to learn more...

A series of 15 steel statues have been unveiled in the Schuman district, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which was signed on 25 March 1957. The series of statues, located on the four corners of the Jean Monnet crossroads behind the Berlaymont, are titled "European Citizens" and were created by German artist Suzanne Boerner. We hear from Marion Lemesre, the Brussels alderwoman for economic affairs, who was there for the inauguration.

On Saturday (25 March), a March for Europe was held outside the European parliament on Place du Luxembourg, with simultaneous events happening in Rome, Berlin, London and more, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which created the European Union as we know it.

"It is time to stand up for the equality, solidarity and justice that Europe promises," the organisers say. "It is time for the people of Europe to reclaim the European project as theirs. It is time to March for Europe, for democracy and for a new ideal that improves the lives of all Europeans."

Greece celebrated its national day on 25 March. There are approximately 20,000 to 22,000 Greek nationals in Belgium. We meet one of them to find out more about the Greek community here.

A former US ambassador whose son-in-law was killed in the Brussels airport attack says Belgium should acknowledge "a horrible failure" and follow the example of the 9/11 compensation fund in treating victims equally and without delay. On 22 March last year, James Cain and his wife Helen were told by their eldest daughter Cameron, 26, that she had secretly married her partner Alexander Pinczowski, 29 - and that he and his sister Sascha were missing in the Zaventem blast. Three agonising days later, the siblings - who were heading for New York - were confirmed dead.

A "collective intelligence workshop" on 1 April aims to invite expats living in Brussels to help shape local policy. The day of discussions at Pianofabriek in Saint-Gilles is part of a new initiative by the Flemish and French-speaking government. The aim is to experiment and advance new ways of participatory democracy to design policy proposals together. Organisers Guy Janssens and Guilhermo Serodio explain more.

On Molenbeek's main square, on the anniversary of the Brussels attacks, was the grand opening of Brass'Art Digitaal Café. This project is making a community asset out of three buildings. Molenbeek mayor Françoise Schepmans and some of the project's backers tell us more.

The M.U.R. [Modular, Urban and Reactive] is a concept created by the French association of the same name. It consists in "transforming a billboard into a kind of open air museum. The objective is to shatter the symbolic barriers that separate the public from art." During the vernissage of the piece by Belgian artist Defo Dalbino (a new artist does a piece each month over the work of the previous artist) Noémie Tant of the nonprofit Costik spoke to us about the project. This Wednesday April 5 at 17:00 the latest mural (this one by Eyes-B) will be inaugurated with a special dance performance by Liadain Herriott. All the different works produced so far are on display on the website.. Southern wall of the Parking 58. www.lemurbrussels.com

We meet Adel, founder of Leo Not Happy -- a community of socially minded people determined to clean Brussels up.

Brussels' circus festival Hopla! is back in the streets of Brussels with the best in circus arts. Finnish duo Wise Fools is premiering Trashpeze, their triple trapeze high flying meditation on power and justice. They tell us why they're both wise and foolish. Background music to the interview is a beer bottle duet and a glasses duet by Duo Gama who will be presenting their act Déconcerto during the festival. www.hopla.brussels

In Belgium, every year, about 325 children are diagnosed with cancer. For Kathleen Moucheron and Veronique Hellemens this was exactly the diagnosis they received when their sons were only two years old. They met each other in Saint Luc hospital in Brussels at the coffee corner which was set up by an organisation called Les Enfants de Salus Sanguinis and seven years later they are now volunteers working to raise funds for the activities and services provided to the families of children with cancer. Moucheron and Hellemans will be taking part in the 20km Brusssels Run on 28 May. http://lesenfantsdesalus.be/

Intelligent recycling, job creation, job training, social insertion, quality design for everyone and renewal in the once "difficult" Anneessens neighbourhood in the central city, all from one project. Find out about that project called Handymade and how you can participate by buying a unique bag that is also part of the Grand' ¨Place. L'Ouvroir, 78 rue Bodeghem. Shop open Mo - Th 8am to 3pm & Fri 8am to 1pm. €39 per bag www.l-ouvroir.be

"One of the most subversive acts ever", Christian Schulte-Loh steps on stage on Tuesday night to challenge the stereotype that "Germans are not funny - at least not on purpose". He will be joined by Rory O’Hanlon, one of the rising stars of Irish comedy. Christian spoke to us on Skype about his experiences playing to different audiences - and how difficult it was to crack the UK comedy market.

The Finnish Cultural Institute, the Alliance Française and the Goethe Institute have come up with a creative initiative called Sweating for Europe: a three-day event where a firetruck converted into sauna will be the setting for informal conversations between MEPs and the people in Brussels. The sauna will be parked outside the European parliament on Monday and Tuesday (24-25 April), before heading to Bozar on Wednesday evening. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sweating-for-europe-tickets-33113538485

Belgian ballet dancer Nathan Baillieul became interested in Irish step dancing in 2000 and began to train rigorously to perfect his talent. He was the first Belgian to take part in the World Championships in Irish Step Dancing 2011 in Dublin, became a qualified teacher of Irish dancing and opened the Eireann Dance Academy in Brussels and Antwerp. It offers classes to children and teenagers from five to 16. Dancers from the Academy were also part of a group called Irish Fusion which reached the semi-finals of the show Belgium’s Got Talent in 2015.

This year celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Brussels Short Film Festival brings together the best in new short films from Belgium and abroad, a retrospective of the best of the last 20 years, along with themed programmes on music, fairy tales and getting naked. And there's a major focus on UK films this year. Céline Masset cofounder of the festival brings us up to speed.

There's a new weekly afternoon and evening market (noon to 9pm) every Wednesday on the Place Jean Rey in the European District with both products to take home as well as meals to eat on the spot. Among others we hear from English, Irish, Algerian and Greek vendors describing what they are offering as well as from Alderwoman Marion Lemesre. The seating and tables are the European Canteen furniture that was specifically designed to encourage conversation and interaction. http://www.europeancanteen.be

One of the largest expat groups living in Brussels, the Dutch, celebrate their national holiday on 27 April. There are 140,000 Dutch nationals living in Belgium - Hans Hack is one of them.

The "Flemish Derren Brown", Gili is a mentalist and visual comedian who performs to audiences in Dutch, French and English. He is currently touring Flanders and spoke to The Bulletin about how magic can break down language barriers.

The Rites of our Ancestors is an Indonesian food tour to five European cities which will make its Brussels' stop at Callens Café. As there are very few Indonesian food possibilities in Brussels this is a great opportunity to discover this culinary heritage in all its variations. Three of Indonesia's most talented young chefs will be creating and cooking this introduction to the rites of their ancestors. We hear from two of the chefs and from Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium His Excellency Yuri Octavian Thamrin, who reminds us that as far as Indonesians are concerned "Love comes from the stomach." Callens Café, 15-17 May, tel 02 647 6668

Poland's Constitution Day is on 3 May. Two of the 70,000 Poles in Belgium tell us about the tradition and how to find a slice of Polish culture in the city

Classic Album Sundays started in London in 2010 and has grown to cities around the world including Brussels. The concept: get together in a pub, turn down the lights and enjoy a classic vinyl album from beginning to end. The next Brussels event celebrates the 20th anniversary of Radiohead's OK Computer, at Le Cercle des Voyageurs on 21 May. Organiser Gina Lapsley explains more. www.classicalbumsundays.com

London born Australian artist Irene Barberis first got interested in the Book of Revelation in the 80's and was surprised to find out that "no females had worked with the full cycle of the Apocalypse and I wanted to fill the gap. I started imagining a new work pf art, full of light evoking rather than illustrating the Book of Revelation; something that would englobe the visitors in light." So, following the Angers Tapestry by Jan Bondol (1380), and tapestries by Bernard Van Orley (1520) and Jean Lurçat (1956-61) Irene Barberis has been working for over ten years on this contemporary version of the Book of Revelation. See the tapestry in Brussels' cathedral through June 15th There are two partner exhibitions. One is at the Royal Library in the Librarium where sixty manuscripts, books and prints devoted to the Apocalypse will be on display and the other is at the Museum of Modern Religious Art in the National Basilica in Koekelberg where etchings on the Apocalypse by XXth century Antwerp artist Victor Delhez will be shown.

Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula April 28 to June 15 Free www.tapestryoflightproject.com/ www.cathedralisbruxellensis.be

Librarium April 25 to July 22 Free https://www.kbr.be/en/librarium

Museum of Religious Art April 27 to June 4 http://www.basilicakoekelberg.be/documents/museum/album-mmrk.xml?lang=en

Award-winning celebrity chef Sofie Dumont has the very popular daily cooking show Sofie in de keuken van on VTM where she promotes her version of delicious healthy food with an emphasis on how to feed children healthy food that they will want to eat. We caught up with her at Pistolet Original where she has created a special Summer pistolet which intertwines her culinary memories of her Brussels grandmother with the tastes of Ibiza.

https://www.sofiedumont.be/fr/ www.pistolet-original.be http://paradisecity.be/

Brussels will commemorate the first anniversary of the death of British MP Jo Cox with the Great Get-Together, held in tandem with 19,000 similar events around the UK. Come along on Sunday 18 June for a picnic in Leopold park to celebrate her life and work. Two of the organisers Iona Hamilton and Jonathan Hill were our guests in the studio to explain what's happening. https://www.facebook.com/events/1239746269469036/

We meet a British author in Brussels who has written a true-crime thriller about a serial killer in an expat community … not here in Brussels but in Panama on the Caribbean coast. Nick Foster describes how he came across the story, what was involved in the research - and how you could see it on TV sometime soon.

Police estimate that 9,000 people attended a "Trump Not Welcome" protest to coincide with the US president's arrival in Brussels on Wednesday evening.

There's a new exhibition at the Central(e) in Brussels that is unusual in its focus on a particular form of contemporary art: works that study the interaction between sound and images. Canadian curator Nicole Gingras explains. Through October 9 centrale.brussels

Italians, one of the biggest expat communities in Brussels, are celebrating a national holiday on 2 June. We talked to the Italian deputy head of mission in Brussels to find out more about this day and their presence in the EU’s capital.

The Ipswich Choral Society are visiting Holy Trinity Brussels (Ixelles) on 2 June. They are the second oldest choral society in the UK, having been founded in 1824. The group's vice-president is Stevie Wishart, a renowned composer and based in Brussels.

Grab your blue and yellow and watch as Swedes in Brussels gear up to celebrate Swedish National Day on 6 June. The day commemorates two historical events while giving otherwise humble Swedes a chance to show their patriotism. We meet Frédéric Melchior - Swedish and Luxembourgish by birth but Belgian by choice.

Danish expats in Brussels and people in Denmark will be celebrating their Constitution Day on 5 June. The holiday dates back to 1849 when the Danish Constitution was signed, which established a constitutional monarchy. We meet two Danish expats to find out about the tradition.

Tradfest is the largest traditional Irish music and culture festival to be run in Belgium, organised by the Irish embassy. Ambassador Éamonn MacAodha explains what's in store for this 2017 edition from 12-18 June.

According to 2016 statistics, approximately 38,000 Portuguese expats are currently living in Belgium, and their impact can be easily seen.

Over the years, the Rue des Bouchers became a tourist trap filled with characterless restaurants serving lousy food and employing aggressive touting tactics to catch unwary tourists. But things are finally changing. The city has embarked on an ambitious plan to upgrade the streets of the Îlot Sacré, while enforcing regulations to weed out the worst restaurants and at the same time attract quality local restaurateurs. Julien Van Beneden, of the restaurant group Accueil et Traditions speaks with us about Restaurant Vincent, one of the oldest and certainly one of the most eye-catching restaurants with its incredible entirely tiled interior, which he has taken over and plans to bring back to its former culinary glory. Alderwoman Marion Lemesre explains what the city is doing to help. www.restaurantvincent.be

Give Music a Chance was an eclectic, family-friendly music bash taking over the gorgeous grounds of Waterloo’s Campus d‘Argenteuil on Saturday. It's not only a festival but also a charity event. All proceeds are going to social projects in Vietnam and Myanmar, giving young people in areas affected by poverty or conflict the opportunity to make music. We meet the organiser.

In 2012 Visit Brussels chose Brusselicious as its theme and from that year of culinary events the Tram Restaurant and the Eat Brussels! festival have become successful annual affairs. Now Visit Brussels is creating the Brusselicious Label. With no existing label, for tourists and locals alike, it is sometimes difficult to know, out of the 3000 restaurants in the city, which ones are the best for traditional Brussels cuisine. Now, when a guest comes visiting from out of town, this list will provide you with a number of vetted options to choose from. This initial list comprises 21 restaurants, 3 informal snackhouses and 12 frites stands. We hear from Olivier Marette of Visit Brussels, selected restaurateur Valerie Leplas and chefs Yannick Van Aeken and Christophe Hardiquest. Maps available at tourist offices and hotels and label visible in restaurant windows. www.visitbrussels.be

A 24-hour non-stop relay organised by the international community of Belgium this weekend raised tens of thousands of euros for cancer research, prevention and treatment. Relay for Life was brought to Belgium from the US in 2011 and has grown ever since. We head to St John's International School to speak to those involved.

Celebrations for Luxembourg’s National Day will begin, as custom has it, the night before 23 June. The small country is home to less than 585,000 people yet you can still find Luxembourgers right here in Brussels. We met with Abby, who just recently found her Luxembourg roots and was happy to connect with her new-found family.

Belgian award-winning filmmaker Fabrice Du Welz makes dark, often violent, heavily atmospheric films about deplorable acts that manage surprisingly to reinforce our general feeling of humanity. His first feature length film Calvaire (2004) is based on the same news item that inspired Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre and was selected for the Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Film Festival, a showcase for promising new directors. His second film Vinyan (2008), starring Emmanuelle Béart and Rufus Sewell, shot in Thailand, uses the 2005 Boxing Day tsunami as the starting point of a harrowing and chilling voyage into the heart of darkness. The next film Alleluia (based on the Lonely Hearts Killers case) brings him back to the Ardennes where Calvaire was shot, both being a part of his Ardennes trilogy. As he was getting organized to shoot the third film in the trilogy, Adoration, he spoke to us about films and filmmaking.

After 27 years, Couleur Café, the popular Brussels summer music festival, has been revamped and filled with all new surprises.

A year after the UK voted to leave the EU, an update on the situation for expats, from representatives of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and the Brussels British Community Association .

25 June marks a date on which the former Yugoslavia dissolved, allowing for some Baltic countries to gain statehood and independence. Croatia, along with Slovenia, now observe this day as their Statehood Day. Croatia has an estimated population of 4,2 million with several thousand calling Belgium home. One Croat you can find in Brussels is Tina Hofland. She is a research executive for FleishmanHillard Brussels and has only been in Belgium for a few weeks.

This week, hundreds of Slovenes living in Brussels will gather at the European Commission to commemorate their national Statehood Day. This year will celebrate the 26th year of Slovenian independence from Yugoslavia. However, despite the country’s long history of bouncing between different empires, Slovenian national Urska Grahek said Slovenes have always had a strong national identity.

Jane Austen may be an English writer but her appeal is universal as was obvious at Waterstone's Tea with Jane Austen event celebrating the bicentenary of of her death with people from Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium, the US and the UK and others, in attendance. We spoke with attendees and organizers and among other things found out the origin of cucumber sandwiches. Waterstones has monthly events both in store and in association with local cultural institutions such as Bozar. www.waterstones.com

About 500 volunteers will take part in nearly 75 charitable projects around Brussels this week, as Serve The City organises its 13th annual Big Volunteer Week. The week will include activities ranging from serving meals in soup kitchens to pop-up spa days for those who are living on the streets. Serve the City is a platform that connects people looking to volunteer with non-profits in their area. The project began in 2005 when founder Carlton Deal moved to Brussels and saw a disconnect between people wanting to get involved and organisations in need of help.

Unless is a nonprofit in Brussels operating out of Gare de Nord station. Although the nonprofit is only a year old, it’s main project, Food for Friends, began six years ago by a man named Ninoslav Ostojic. Nino, as he is known to friends and the people he serves, has worked alongside Michelle to create a place where people living on the streets, refugees and others in need feel safe and respected.

Friskis&Svettis is a fitness and sports organisation that hosts pop-up work out classes around Brussels and the world, including free sessions throughout July and August. It entirely run by volunteers with more than 12,000 volunteers working as fitness instructors throughout Europe. There are 500 people in Brussels that are already members. One of the organisers, Alex Mascia, says it's a laid back approach to fitness. www.friskis.be

On 14 July French people all over the world will be celebrating their national day. According to estimates from the French consulate in Brussels, there are up to a quarter of a million French citizens living in Belgium. Over the past year we've spoken to several French artists and art collectors who have made their mark here. Is Brussels the new Paris? Gallery owner Jean de Malherbe, muralist Guillaume Botazzi, origami artist Dewi Brunet and collector Charles Riva tell us about their work.

21 July is Belgium's national day, generally celebrated with a Catholic Te Deum service, a parade near the palace and, of course, fireworks and beer. While this nationality is by chance of birth for some, for others it is a choice. According to an immigration survey, three out of four foreigners who settle in Belgium ultimately obtain Belgian nationality. Barbaros Corekoglu is a Turk-turned-Belgian. He says he's proud of his new nationality.

Visionary educator Dr Stephen Spurr is an expert in emerging trends in the international education sector, focusing on the skills and knowledge needed to prepare students for future challenges. He is group education director at Inspired Education Group and a former headmaster at Westminster School in the UK.

Hungarian expats in Brussels tell us about their national day (20 August) and where you can find a slice of Hungarian culture in the city

On 29 August Slovaks young and old will come together to lay wreathes to remember Slovak Uprising Day. The day signifies the first day of resistance to the push of Nazi Germany in 1944. We meet a Slovak expat in Brussels to find out more.

Ariane Rousseau, Muriel Legrand and Julie Leyder who are totally dedicated to a cappella and more specifically close harmony form the singing group Tibidi. Interpreting la chanson française, American pop hits, classical music and their own compositions they are more than just perfect harmony, they are also actors who can evoke laughter and tears. Ariane Rousseau tells us about them.

While to some the idea of living in a big, trendy house full of strangers from around the world may sound like a reality show, to those living in Cohabs, it’s simply reality. Cohabs is a new business in the housing market based mainly in Brussels. It’s built on ideas of cohabitation, upscale living and a free formed lifestyle. Most rooms rent for between 600 and 750 euros per month which includes weekly communal space and bathroom cleaning services, a rec room and a built-in home gym.

Belgium is the host country of this year’s World Fife and Drum Festival which kicks off in Brussels on 15 September. Fife and Drum bands from America, Switzerland, Italy, France and Belgium will take to the streets, with a parade through the Grand Place to the statue of Mannekin Pis and later that evening all the bands will gather at La Tentation on Rue De Laeken for an evening of music and dancing. www.Festival.trommelfluit.org

Brussels celebrates the applied arts with a month-long showcase of established and up-and-coming talent. The highlight of the design season in Belgium, Design September’s programme promises more than 100 design-related activities, from exhibitions to lectures to pop-up stores to parties. We hear from a dozen creators and organizers from among the over 100 events. Until 30 September. www.designseptember.be www.prague-house.eu/ www.flandersdc.be www.restoredesign.be www.pinkeye.be www.designisland.pl www.mad.brussels www.nachocarbonell.com www.michaelannastassiades.com www.xavierlust.com www.alainberteau.com www.michelpenneman.com

While Victor Horta was in London in 1915 attending a conference on the future reconstruction of Belgium, a journalist quoted his negative comments about the Germans and Horta was unable to return to Belgium. Meanwhile, his wife Julia had taken the opportunity of the London trip to organise lectures in her native Sweden on the wartime suffering of the Belgians, especially children. She turned out to be an electrifying speaker and the Belgian government sent her on a charitable mission to the US.where she raised the equivalent of €11 million in today's money. During the rest of the war years, the Hortas travelled across America both lecturing and sightseeing.The Maison Autrique, one of Horta's first houses, is hosting an exhibition on the Horta's American years. Etienne Schreder, Maison Autrique Director talks to us about how the expat experience in the US changed Horta's way of practising architecture. Until 1 October http://www.autrique.be/en/

This coming week, Maison Russe will be devoting an entire programme to art, from film screenings to craft workshops and musical performances. We spoke to some of the Russian organisers, artists and expats about their culture. https://www.facebook.com/maisonrusse.be/

Brussels ideas club Full Circle is back for a new season with a packed programme of inspiring speakers. We hear from co-founders Louise Hilditch and Bridie Nathanson about what's in store this year and who should join. www.fullcircle.eu

For its 15th edition Nuit Blanche has as theme Power Games and will take place in the Our Lady of the Snows/Freedoms neighbourhoods. Two artists, Anna Rispoli and Ivan Ludlow tell us what their contributions to the night will entail. www.nuitblanche.brussels

More than 1,000 people demonstrated in front of the EU institutions in Brussels on Thursday evening to protest for women's rights across Europe on the occasion of International Safe and Legal Abortion Day. The organisations came from across Europe, brought together by the initiative of the World March for Women. Our reporter Laura Cain spoke to those involved.

The next theatrical production from the Irish Theatre Group Brussels is a play where two shabbily dressed men in bowler hats talk nonsense to each other while standing on the side of the road. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett takes place on October 6, 7 and 10-14 at the Warehouse Studio Theatre, Rue Waelhem 69, Schaerbeek 1030. https://irishtheatrebrussels.com/

13-15 October is the Brussels Electronic Marathon featuring 65 events, 33 venues and 229 artists. We catch up with Nick Ramoudt, long-time managing director of the legendary nightclub Fuse. www.bem.brussels

The Europalia arts biennale has been building cultural bridges since 1969. Each edition focuses on one country with a comprehensive treatment, showcasing everything from visual arts to dance to music to literature and film. The current edition, until 14 January, celebrates Indonesia. We meet Indonesian Beatles tribute band G-Pluck, who recently performed in Brussels.

Philippe Parel and Grégoire Vogelsang are busy organizing the 2nd edition of Cube Art Fair (11-15 October) which brings three dozen or so American artists to Brussels to meet Belgians and show their art, a unique opportunity to interact with locals and local collectors. Last year's show was a big success and they are looking forward to more exchanges this year. But before there was Cube Art Fair there was the self-imposed 48 hour challenge… in Miami. They tell us all about it. www.cubeartfair.com

The Senate is opening its doors to the public throughout October with an artistic project that crosses Belgium's regional and linguistic boundaries and addresses the issue of how we live together. Superdemocracy is a partnership between three cultural institutions - Bozar in Brussels, BPS22 in Charleroi and M HKA in Antwerp. M HKA director and curator Bart De Baere explains more.

"Great progress" is being made to bridge the gap between Brussels' regional authorities and the many international organisations and individuals that call Brussels home, according to the first Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations, Alain Hutchinson.

Classic Album Sunday is a vinyl listening experience in Brussels and this month's chosen album is Bjork's Homogenic, which is marking its 20th anniversary. The session will be moderated by Frank Duchêne, one of the founding members of the highly successful Belgian band Hooverphonic. He tells us about his love of Bjork's music - and why vinyl is so special.

People from 184 nationalities share Brussels as home. What are the actual stories of all these immigrants? And what led to this intense cosmopolitan existence? Many people think that it is a recent development, driven by such factors as the creation of the EU. But actually, since 1830 there have been waves of immigration that over 200 years have transformed Brussels into a world-city. For instance, scores of Chinese came to Brussels at the turn of the 20th century to study and many stayed, founding the Chinese community of Belgium. Why did these people leave their original homes and how did Brussels greet them? The new exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Brussels: A Safe Haven? presents a historical perspective, a contemporary view and an artistic interpretation. Curator Pascale Falek-Alhadef tells us about it. https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/museums/jewish-museum-of-belgium

A new book aims to promote more gender-inclusive organisations and inspire a new generation of female leaders, by focusing on 14 successful women who have "made it" in Brussels fields ranging from politics and law to journalism and technology. Women Leading the Way in Brussels is co-authored by Claudia Caldeirinha, a university professor and founder of consultancy company Redscope. She explains more.

George Parker is an illusionist and mentalist from the Netherlands. He also describes himself as a "corporate alchemist". He'll be bending reality in a show Le Trac in Auderghem next Saturday. We caught up with him on Skype and asked him how he discovered magic.

Christo was in Brussels recently to attend the opening of the ING Art Center's retrospective of the Urban Projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. He spoke with Richard Harris about what is was like to be stateless for 17 years, why he settled in NYC, what his work has brought him, what the 58 World's Fair in Brussels meant for him and why he listens to Mozart when he works. https://about.ing.be/About-ING/Art/Christo-Jeanne-Claude.-Urban-Projects.htm

Located in the City of London in an old bank building, Hispania is the largest restaurant dedicated to the cuisines of Spain in the world. And now, it has opened a second restaurant in Brussels in the Sablon. London head chef Marco Moràn will be in Brussels for the next few months at the helm in Brussels. He tells us what to expect. www.hispaniabrussels.com

There’s a new exhibition at the Ixelles Museum aimed specifically towards children between 6 and 12 years old. It’s co-produced with the non-profit Patrimoine à Roulettes (Heritage on Wheels), is entitled Hop! and aims to teach art appreciation through movement. The paintings are hung 1,20 meters from the ground to give children a perfect view. The art pieces are paired with each pair representing a movement. Then there is Hop! Lab on Sunday afternoons. This is a long white room with one wall divided into three screens. The children listen, watch and dance, from whirling like a dervish to making nonsense sounds to frenetic freestyle dancing. Yves the coordinator tells us about it. Until 4 February. www.museedixelles.be
https://www.facebook.com/patrimoine.aroulettes

Brussels-based indie-alt band, Tigers Of Eden - made up of members from the four corners of the globe - have just released their first ever album. They've been gigging together since 2011, mostly around Brussels, but sometimes further afield too, playing covers as well as their own material. Now they've decided to record their originals in the studio, resulting in their debut album, New Stripes. To celebrate the release they will be playing Scotts Bar on Saturday 11 November. We caught up with the band to find out more about the album and the recording process. www.Facebook.com/TigersEden

Friday 10 November is International Interns Day. Bryn Watkins from the Brussels Interns NGO (Bingo) tells us how the event will be marked here in Brussels.

Raves, riots, revolutions. Music has often been used to unsettle the most fundamental political and social conventions, to challenge the status-quo, but also as a tool for manipulation and propaganda. What makes music so powerful? Musician Dave Randall is a former guitarist with Faithless. His debut book, Sound System: The Political Power of Music makes the case for music and social change. See him at Full Circle in Brussels on Tuesday evening. http://fullcircle.eu/events/dave-randall/ http://www.randallmusic.net/

Kevin Van Doorslaer is from a Belgian carny family that goes back generations. He grew up on the road from town to town and then fortuitously ended up in New York where he was the first Belgian to graduate from The Neighborhood Playhouse. As an expat in New York and Los Angeles he worked in film and theatre before coming back to Belgium for a very personal project. http://www.kevinvandoorslaer.com/index.php/en/

EU and non-EU foreigners residing in Belgium have the right to vote in local elections or to stand for office. How does one vote? Why would one want to vote? What possible disadvantages are there to voting? Tom Huddleston of Migration Policy Group walks us through the process and dispels myths along the way. www.allrights.be www.migpolgroup.com

Oasis Belgium is an NGO which has been offering help and support to victims of human trafficking in Belgium since 2007. In their latest fundraising attempt, called ‘In the Long Run’, volunteers are running 10km a day along the human trafficking route from Calcutta to Mumbai. Phil Lane, director of Oasis Belgium, explains more. www.oasisglobal.org

Every winter, from November to January, the English language theatre groups in Brussels bring to the stage a number of well known and festive productions for us to enjoy and this winter is no exception. First up is Gershwin’s musical ‘Crazy for You’, from the Brussel’s Light Opera Company (BLOC) from 23-26 November at the Centre Culturel d’Auderghem and tickets are available at www.mus-ticket.de. Director Rachel Bateman explains all.

Gilbert & George, the “art for all” artists who work in many media but call everything they produce sculpture have been together for 50 years and currently have a show of their latest series The Beard Pictures here in Brussels.They talk about how their career started in Brussels in the early seventies, what art means to them and to the world, and they give us a live performance of their seminal "Singing Sculpture." Until 23 December at the Albert Baronian Gallery. http://www.albertbaronian.com/

Due to the city’s campaign to clean up and refurbish the Ilot Sacré neighborhood and eliminate the many tourist trap restaurants to make it a neighbourhood locals will frequent again as well as tourists, there are temporarily a few empty stores on the Petite Rue des Bouchers. So, for the Christmas season until 7 January, the city has spiffed up the storefronts and is proposing Pimp My Street: pop-up stores by Belgian designers, creators and artisans of watch design, jewellery, clothes, objects/accessories, chocolate, woodworking, contemporary art, furniture, graphic and craft design, photography and interior design. We speak with organiser Kunty Moureau and artisans Laurent Gerbaud, Dominique Gringoire, Siré Kaba, Margaux Baert and Jean-François Bodson. www.pimpmysreet.be

It’s time once again for art gallery La Forest Divonne’s Project Room during which they showcase young emerging artists. Gallery owner Jean de Malherbe is a great talent scout and he is presenting a photographer duo Elsa & Johanna, visual artist Ola Lanko and painter Orsten Groom. Kaleidoscope until 6 December. Three of the artists tell us about their work. http://www.galerielaforestdivonne.fr/en/shows/?place=bruxelles

Earlier this autumn, Helena Nolan presented her credentials to King Philippe of Belgium and became Ireland’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium. She replaced Eamonn Mac Aodh who held the position since March 2012. Leaving her job as Director of Disarmament and Non-proliferation in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland, Ambassador Nolan spoke to The Bulletin about her new role and her future in Belgium.

The Brussels Cultural Guide 2018 Edition, a comprehensive guide to all major and many minor events happening in Brussels during the year has just been published. The guide, in Dutch, English and French, is published annually by the Foundation for the Arts. Director Guy de Bellefroid tells us what's inside and what's new this year. www.agenda.brussels

La Central(e), the City of Brussels’ contemporary art museum, is presenting Private Choices which sheds light on 11 private Brussels collections including work by Belgian and international artists, established or emerging. How do these passionate collectors shape the art world, a world increasingly commercialised? "Whether these collections are methodical, intuitive, secretive or shared, they all tell a private story." Director Carine Fol describes the hows and whys of the show. Until 27 May 2018. www.centrale.brussels

Schuman Lights Up is back, with nine days of festive events under a white tent with fairytale lighting. Until 13 December, various groups will be offering seasonal foods and activities. Marion Wolfers from organiser Schuman Square ASBL explains more.

A British writer living in Brussels has penned a new anthology of poetry envisioning a bleak future for Britain post-Brexit. Stephen Gospage has spent over 35 years working in the European institutions. In "The Brexit Queue" he speculates on how day-to-day life may become less pleasant, and more ridiculous, for the ordinary citizen once the UK leaves the EU.

A wonderful end-of-year treat, the 13th edition of the Be Film Festival is here with the best Belgian movies of 2017. The week before Christmas is an opportunity to catch up on those films you missed - with 28 films scheduled in total. Céline Masset, co-creator and organiser of the festival tells us what's in store this year. www.befilmfestival.be

Non-Belgian EU citizens have had the right to vote in - and stand for - local elections in Belgium since 2000. Non-EU foreigners have been able to do the same since 2004, as long as they have been a resident for at least five years. But a very small percentage have taken advantage of this right. Tom Huddleston, from Migration Policy Group, explains why your vote count - and how to register.

Ringing in the New Year is the English Comedy Club’s pantomime, Snow White. There is no doubt that the political events of 2017 will provide director Conrad Toft with a vast array of material to ensure that the theatre will be bursting with jolly laughter, disapproving hissing and playful booing, as the evil Queen of Snowmania, in the grip of an eternal winter, tries to stop Snow White from meeting the handsome Belgian Prince Leonidas, whose true love’s kiss could ensure the return of spring to the kingdom.

Snow White, 19-21 January 2018, Auderghem Cultural Centre

The first production of the Brussels Shakespeare Society for 2018 is one of the bard’s most popular and, probably, most comedic plays, A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Emily Bowles, in her debut as director for Brussels Shakespeare Society, explains what's in store. 

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 22-27 January 2018, Theatre Mercelis, Ixelles

ADAM, the Brussels Design Museum has opened a new permanent space called the Plasticotek. Now entering its third year the museum has realized that it needs a hands-on space where plastics can be explained to the visitor. What are plastics? How are they made? What is their history? What do they feel like? Museum Director Arnaud Bozzini and Richard Thommeret Professor in Plastic Technology, Industrial Design & Interior Architecture at La Cambre (University of Brussels) give us whys and hows.

http://www.adamuseum.be/home-museum-en.html