What's on this week: 2-8 February

In the annual Moussem Cities festival, Moussem Nomadic Arts Centre and its partners in Brussels focus on an Arab metropolis. Each time, they choose a city with a rich and culturally diverse history, which plays a vital role in contemporary Arab societies through its artistic dynamism. Artists from the region and from the diaspora offer insight into their city and their work through performances, concerts, encounters, films, exhibitions and more. After editions focused on Tunis and Beirut, this year it's Casablanca. It is the biggest city in Morocco: metropolis, port, and historic crossroads of the Arab world, Europe, Sub-Sahara, and the lands across the sea. Venues are De Markten, Kaaistudios, the Vaartkapoen, Bozar and the festival headquarters at Le Space on the Rue Dansaert.
1-28 February

This month's Friday lunchtime documentary screening at Point Culture is Oscar Niemeyer - A Politically Committed Architect, in which the world famous Brazilian architect tells us how his work as an architect was shaped by his leftist militancy and his love of sensuality.
2 February 12.30, 2€ (bring your own lunch), or 6€ with sandwich (must be reserved in advance)

This Friday evening the Belgian Museum of Freemasons is holding a nocturne. A guide will take you through seven rooms (but not the temple itself) and explain the origins, the history, the masonic symbols and he break the stereotypes. He will also guide you through the temporary exhibition “Women knock on the door of the Temple: 1717 to 2017.”
2 February 18.30, in French. Registration required at anne@mbfm.be

The Growth of a Game and the American Club of Brussels are co-hosting the biggest Super Bowl event in Brussels, in partnership with The Bulletin. Doors open at 19.00 and American football fans can party all night long. The kitchen will be open all evening with classic game-day fare, like burgers and hot dogs, and there will be more than 15 beers to choose from. Tickets are €15.
4 February 19.00, Renaissance Hotel

It’s the first edition of META Queer Cultural Event this Friday evening with short films, live electronic music, DJ sets, workshops, books, food and drink.
LaVallée, Rue Adolphe Lavallée 39, Molenbeek

Soviet Design: Red Wealth is an exhibition about design in the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1980. The 600-object show is brought to Brussels by the Moscow Design Museum and is the result of a labour of love on the part of dedicated enthusiasts and professionals who saved historically priceless documents and beautiful objects from the dustbin. This is a chapter of design that many know little about and the show is an eye-opener.
Until 25 May, ADAM

In 1924 Adolf Hitler said "propaganda is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert". In the ensuing years he proved his point. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has a temporary exhibition at the Parlamentarium entitled State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda which examines how the Nazis used this weapon to sway millions in their rise to power in Germany after the first world war.
Until 13 May, free

The Holiday Show is here for all lovers of holidays and travelling. This weekend, three halls of Brussels Expo will be filled with more than 800 exhibitors to take you to extraordinary places, both near and far. This year’s country in the spotlight is Thailand, celebrating 150 years of friendship with Belgium.
1-4 February, Brussels Expo

The Honda Competition for Classical Music - now in its second year - is an unusual musical competition. Most such competitions are between players of one instrument, a piano competition or a violin competition for instance. In this case all instruments are competing with each other. This year there are three finalists, two sopranos and an oboe. You can attend the final this coming Wednesday (7 February) at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels starting at 20.00. Free.

Brussels I Love You is a contemporary art walk linking 20 public spaces in Ixelles and Saint-Gilles, bringing together the public and the players of the art market including art gallery visits, cultural organisations, collections, exhibition spaces, artist residencies and more. The art walk will also feature special events such as private visits and artistic projects.
3-10 February

In February and March it’s Brussels Dance! with more than 50 performances and lectures, 100 or so performers and an open and bold selection of young and emerging talent as well as known artists. It takes place in 13 cultural centers: Beursschouwburg, Charleroi Danse/La Raffinerie, Garage 29, Kaaitheater, KVS, L'L, La Balsamine, La Bellone, Le 140, Le Jacques Franck, Les Brigittines, Les Halles de Schaerbeek and Théâtre National. The festival will showcase the richness and diversity of the performing arts in Brussels so that the public can discover the creativity and vitality of Brussels' dance scene.
1 February-31 March

Arctique is a futuristic thriller in which climate change and incessant war has pushed people to northward migration. Six people stow away on an old cruise ship being towed to Greenland. The tow boat abandons them on the high seas until they are locked in the ice. Written by Anne-Cécile Vandalem, the play is a combination of theatre, cinematography and music. In French with English surtitles.
Until 3 February, Théâtre National

Sports Fair 2018, the largest sports fair in Belgium, is here this weekend. At the Brussels Expo, there will be 200 demonstrations by professionals of the newest sports equipment, stands with popular and new sports brands and the latest trends in food supplements and any other sports materials imaginable.
2-4 February, Brussels Expo