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Culture beat: 9 October

23:41 09/10/2015
Take your pick from our selection of arts and events for the coming week…

Music

With Europalia Turkey now underway, one of the first musical events of the four-month festival is an evening dedicated to two masters of traditional folk this evening (Friday). La Nuit du Kemençe presents two international musicians, the Turk Derya Turkan and Sokratis Sinopoulos from Greece. An oriental variation of the violin, the kemençe or kemenche is a stringed instrument popular throughout the Middle East, the Balkans and central Asia.

It’s the final weekend of Festival FrancoFaune, the nine-day French chanson/pop-rock event that celebrates musical diversity. With concerts all over the city, an eclectic line-up includes Zita Swoon Group at Maison des Cultures on Friday, Balimurphy at Jacques Franck CC on Saturday and Des Fourmis dans les mains/Ivan Tirtiaux at Bravo on Sunday. Free admission for some concerts and workshops.

Community

World War One heroine and martyr Edith Cavell is commemorated in a series of events this weekend to mark the 100th anniversary of her execution on 12 October 1915. The British nurse, who played a key role in establishing nursing services in Belgium, was shot by a German firing squad in Schaerbeek for sheltering and aiding Allied soldiers. The Holy Trinity pro-Cathedral hosts a commemoration concert on Saturday evening with music by Sibelius, Haydn and a world premiere of David Mitchell’s Cavell Mass. Royal guests participate in Brussels tributes on Monday, with Princess Anne, president of the Edith Cavell Centenary Appeal and Princess Astrid of Belgium attending the unveiling of a bust in Uccle and a service at the Belgian Senate. It was in the senate chamber that Cavell and 34 other members of the Belgian resistance were tried by occupying forces.

The international community’s favourite art gathering, the Accessible Art Fair, returns to the capital for its 12th edition from 15 to 18 October at Cercle de Lorraine in Place Poelaert. The platform for emerging creative talent shows work by 60 artists and designers selected by a panel of experts. The fair provides the public an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase art at affordable prices. Reservations required for art tours (€10) by curator Sophie Clauwaert and Laure Dorchy,. Entrance to fair €10, reduced price for juniors and seniors.

Book now for Full Circle events which invite thought-provoking Guardian columnist Oliver Burkeman to talk about the Negative path to happiness on 21 October. The journalist, who pens the popular weekly article This Column Will Change Your Life, sparks the conversation at lunchtime and evening gatherings. Full Circle is a professional networking club which organises two events per month for members and people interested in sharing ideas.  

Event

Trade fair with a difference Europe Refresh brings together around 40 NGOs looking for crowdfunding at Halles de Schaerbeek this weekend. Covering various initiatives, from environmental concerns to shared economy organisations, the third edition stages talks, conferences and workshops. Refreshments available, free entrance.

Theatre

The Belgian premiere of critically-acclaimed US play Straight White Men is performed at Kaaitheater from 15 to 17 October (pictured). Produced by Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company, it recounts a Christmas family gathering between a father and his three sons in which the conversation turns to sexual identity and privilege. South Korean-born American playwright Young Jean Lee has previously appeared at Kaaitheater with her Untitled Feminist Show in 2012. In English

Film/family

The Vendôme cinema organises les Samedis du Ciné, 20 French-language screenings a year, destined for children and adults. From mid-September to June, the film club programmes two screenings in the morning, one for the little ones (age five and up; accompanied by non-profit Loupiote) and the other for parents. Ticket price is €2.50 and includes a snack for children. This Saturday the club proposes La Grande aventure de Maya l’abeille for kids, while adults/teenagers can enjoy Bande de filles by Céline Sciamma. From 10.00.

Written by Sarah Crew