By Martin Banks
The eighth edition of Bright Festival lit up the Brussels capital region over four evenings.
Some 41 installations and illuminations by national and international artists put the spotlight on the Royal and European Quarters.
This year, as part of Belgium’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the theme of Europe inspired several majestic works.
In addition to this rich programme, the Bright Disco Night, Bright Market, Bright Kids, guided tours and a host of other festival activities attracted huge crowds.
Some 500,000 visitors came out to enjoy this sublime spectacle, of whom half were Brussels inhabitants, 25% Belgians and 25% tourists.
Ever since its first edition, Bright Festival has been giving the public a chance to admire the capital’s districts in a whole new light.
This year, no fewer than 41 installations and events illuminated the city centre for the event which ended on 16 February.
To mark the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a number of European artists chose to highlight the theme of Europe through their installations.
Festival goers also enjoyed the return of the Bright Market. Set up in Cinquantenaire Park, it gave visitors the chance to have their damaged lamps repaired or to buy original light fittings second-hand.
In addition to its sparkling programme, Bright Festival offered visitors the possibility of extending their evening escapades with guided tours and the Bright Disco Night, which welcomed two thousand people to Galerie Ravenstein.
On the sustainability front, every effort was made to minimise the environmental impact of the festival. Indeed, it was one of the jury’s criteria for selecting the works exhibited.
An external audit of the entire event was carried out. This study will enable us to further improve the event in the coming years.
This year’s many artists, the cultural and tourist partners, and the special attention paid to active mobility, were all factors which contributed to Bright Festival’s success. Once again, it was a wonderful way to showcase the Brussels-Capital Region on a national and international level.
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