Discover the organisations ready to help and support BelgianFashion
Belgian Fashion Awards
Belgian Fashion AwardsMore Info
The Belgian Fashion Awards have been organised annually since 2017 by the organisations Flanders DC, MAD Brussels, Wallonia-Brussels Design Mode (WBDM), and the magazines Knack
Weekend and Le Vif Weekend. These awards were created to highlight the reputation, creativity, and diversity of Belgian fashion both at home and abroad. We also want to pay attention here to
those who work behind the scenes and provide a stage for lesser-known names and new talent.
Annually, the awards are a stimulus to celebrate Belgian fashion, meet each other, and deepen
ties across the creative sector. Besides being surreal, modest, industrious, avant-garde, and nononsense, the organisers show that Belgian fashion also stands for independence, personality,
and sustainability. At the Belgian Fashion Awards, we give a voice to the Belgian fashion industry, which is usually humble. http://www.belgianfashionwards.be
Belgium is Design
Belgium is DesignMore Info
Belgium is Design is a declaration of passion for design, highlighting the unique characteristics of Belgium’s creative production, a programme to promote Belgian design on the international scene.
About
The BELGIUM IS DESIGN project promotes Belgian design around the world and is an initiative of 3 institutions: Flanders DC, MAD – Home of Creators and Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode.
This joined-up approach has been active since 2011, stimulating and developing initiatives to showcase Belgium’s designers, manufacturers and producers on foreign markets.
Belgium is Design’ strategy takes shape through recurring presences at key events, such as the Milan Design Week or the Maison&Objet fair in Paris. It is enriched by occasional participations in other events that allow the designers to approach new markets or that give promising opportunities for the international development of Belgian companies.
WALLONIE-BRUXELLES DESIGN MODE
WBDM supports design and fashion by opening international doors for companies and designers based in Wallonia and Brussels. Since 2006, WBDM has given its support to these creative industries, mainly
achieved through collective stands at international trade fairs, exhibitions, B2B events, and meetings with the press and other international opinion makers. Through these activities and close supervision, WBDM continues to witness the flourishing of business in this sector.
Laure Capitani, Aline Lermusieaux,
Leslie Lombard and Giorgia Morero
FLANDERS DC
Flanders DC for Design supports, promotes and connects Flemish entrepreneurs and companies from the design industry, both at the start, growth and professional expansion of their business. Flanders DC provides advice and guidance, opens doors abroad through international actions, brings recognition with, among others, the Henry van de Velde Awards, and inspires and stimulates collaborations.
Christian Oosterlinck
MAD, HOME OF CREATORS
MAD Brussels wants to give wings to young designers. In addition to promoting and showcasing the Brussels fashion and design sector, the Center for Fashion & Design wants to stimulate, support and encourage creative initiatives. Innovative, sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurship plays a very important role at MAD. Designers can get help in developing their own brand and label. Together with a lot of Brussels creative talent, MAD Brussels builds the creative character of the capital.
Dieter Van den Storm
More Info
BeCraft are artists from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation supported, promoted, trained and informed.
It is a continuous exchange between Belgium and the International.
It is a place in a historic high place: the Old Slaughterhouses of Mons.
It is also a space for exhibitions, conferences, workshops and above all, meetings.
Representative of Applied Arts in French-speaking Belgium, BeCraft lifts the veil on current creation, its new approaches and new techniques.
MISSION
BeCraft is a professional association promoting applied arts professions in the regions of Wallonia and Brussels. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, paper, textiles, object design are, among others, the creative fields in which the artists who are supported and promoted are involved. BeCraft works in conjunction with WCC•Europe, within the global structure of the World Crafts Council.
Four main objectives motivate the actions of BeCraft: the support and promotion in Belgium and abroad of its member artists; informing and training the public and professionals in the field through exhibitions, conferences, workshops and guided tours.
The BeCraft Gallery is a showcase for the latest, ever more innovative and daring creations of member artists. The rigor with which the works are selected and presented does not hinder the conviviality of the place, conducive to tasting tea in handmade bowls.
Particular attention is paid to the creators of tomorrow. With this in mind, the association organizes the Tremplin exhibition each year, a competition for students who have recently graduated from the Schools of Art of Wallonia and Brussels. The exhibition of their end-of-study work shows a new landscape of Belgian creation in full prospection, while giving them a professional boost thanks to the Prizes awarded on this occasion.
A number of international exhibitions, in collaboration with other institutions, are organized here and then exported abroad. It is by offering the public and artists the opportunity to contemplate the works of creators from all countries that BeCraft contributes to promoting dialogue, stimulation and emulation of the Applied Arts.
Its participation in international exhibitions and fairs also confirms this objective by promoting artistic exchanges between Belgian and foreign creation while allowing its member artists to enjoy a certain recognition across Europe.
STORY
Before being renamed BeCraft in October 2018, the association was known as the World Crafts Council – Francophone Belgium (WCC-BF).
It was in 1981, with the support of the World Crafts Council, an NGO recognized by UNESCO, that the WCC-BF was founded. Starting with the determination of the creators gathered around Anne Leclercq, professor of ceramics and one of the founding members of the association, the WCC-BF ignores the difficulties to ensure the promotion of the Craft of creation and the improvement of the living conditions of creators. Gradually, the WCC-BF gains visibility and obtains the support of public and private institutions such as the City of Mons, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the Province of Hainaut, the National Lottery, the European Union… with which partnerships are made. .
After more than twenty years of work driven by the permanent investment of Anne Leclercq – then President of WCC-BF, of WCC-Europe and Vice-President of WCC International –, the WCC-BF finds a place commensurate with its aspirations. Since 2006, he has occupied the Old Slaughterhouses of Mons, built in 1884 by the architect Charles François Sury in a Lombard style; admirably renovated by the Atelier Matador and the architect Philippe Roland in the spirit of their original function. The association’s gallery is located in the old barn where the offices are also located, designed as bivalent spaces for concentration and interaction with the public. It is in this place that the permanent exhibition of the creations of member artists, temporary exhibitions and tea tastings are held. The Grande Halle, with a surface area of 700m², hosts major cultural events, organized from time to time by the association, such as the International Triennials (European Triennial of Contemporary Jewelery; European Triennial of Ceramics and Glass; European Prize for Applied Arts) . The fridge, meanwhile, is a space conducive to events. Screenings, conferences and workshops are regularly held there.
In 2016, Anne Leclercq gave way to the new generation. Gaëlle Cornut will manage for three years an institution then recognized throughout Europe. Today, at the dawn of its forty years, the renamed association is managed horizontally by three managers (Administration, Project, Communication) and pursues the primary objective of universalizing the Applied Arts. BeCraft affirms its contemporary spirit and strengthens the promotion of creators in Belgium and abroad.
MANIFESTO FOR THE APPLIED ARTS
ABOUT THE MANIFESTO:
To mark its 40th anniversary, the World Crafts Council Europe has undertaken a survey of its members to determine the challenges facing the crafts sector. The results of the survey form the basis for the development of this “Crafting Europe, manifesto and action plan”.
THE ACTION PLAN SEEKS SOLUTIONS THAT WILL:
– Recognize the contribution of craftsmanship to our European society, heritage, culture and economy.
– Celebrate this rich creative sector which values the human connection with the world around us and which shows the way forward for sustainable development in local economies.
– Provide appropriate supports and legislation to enable the sector to grow commercially.
– Build the future of the sector through appropriate training to ensure the transmission of skills to young people.
– Stimulate all types of innovation to ensure the evolution of craftsmanship.
– Raising awareness in the sector in order to promote, preserve and protect the European craft heritage transmitted from generation to generation.
HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO IT?
By simply signing the manifesto, you, together with the European institutions and national decision-makers who support us, work together on this six-point action plan to ensure the survival and development of craftsmanship for future generations.
https://wcc-europe.org/support-the-manifesto-for-the-future-of-fine-crafts-in-europe/
Site des Anciens Abattoirs 17/02 Rue de la Trouille Mons 7000 Belgium