BRUSSELS – Some 245 museums and 300 private individuals are lending work for a major exhibition to mark Belgium’s 175th anniversary.

“Made In Belgium”, devised by the organisation Collections & Patrimoine, opens on Tuesday and runs until 15 September.

It will take over six floors at the Dexia Art Centre, covering 6,600 square metres.

Visitors are being advised to allow several hours to view the whole exhibition and tickets allowing three visits, for the price of two, are designed to encourage repeat visits.

Starting with the birth of Belgium as an independent nation, Made In Belgium will trace the country’s history to the modern day, highlighting the contribution of famous Belgians such as Jacques Brel, Rene Magritte and Adolphe Sax.

Twelve themes will be featured: liberties, music, sport, comics, decorative arts, painting, great horizons, literature, science and technology, the dramatic arts, folklore and traditions, and flavours.

Some 4,000 rare objects and documents will be on display, including 72 major paintings from Belgian masters such as Rubens, Van Eyck and Delvaux.

Football fans can enjoy memorable goals shown on screens and find out who was the Belgian referee at the first World Cup.

Those who love Belgian comics can view 18 new works specially created for the exhibition on the theme of “Bravo, Belgium.”

La Libre Belgique, however, noted with disappointment that the exhibition was not very interactive.

Curator Jacques Broun said: “We’ve avoided anything that is interactive: that risks causing queues in an exhibition where we expect a lot of people.”

Tickets cost EUR 9 and an audio guide is available which contains the voices of several personalities.

More information:
http://www.expo-madeinbelgium.be

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news