Groot Eiland

Visit the urban field of Groot Eiland

This activity is only available in NL-FR.

Experience the power of local cultivation and let the taste of freshness surprise you.

Groot Eiland proudly presents the abundance of urban nature at the city field L’abattoir, located on the roof of the historic abattoirs. The fields symbolize innovation, with the application of the SPIN farming method (Small Plot Intensive Farming) for the cultivation of ‘high value crops’. These crops promise a maximum yield per square meter. Imagine a salad mix, as vibrant as the city, slipping through your fingers, or taste the freshness of arugula, spinach and baby vegetables straight from the field. Colorful cherry tomatoes, edible flowers, aromatic herbs and crispy spring onions await to be admired.

‘Added value crops’ enrich the range with juicy zucchinis, crunchy beans, peas, creamy eggplants, spicy peppers and sweet melons, bringing the colors of summer to your plate. A visit reveals how the future of urban agriculture is taking shape!

BIGH

Visit BIGH, the Brussels aquaponics farm

This activity is only available in NL-FR

Visit BIGH’s aquaponics farm! BIGH (Building Integrated Greenhouses) is building a network of aquaponic urban farms in major cities. Aquaponics is a method of growing food where aquaculture (raising water animals like snails, fish and shellfish) is combined with hydroponics (growing plants in water) in a way that both cultures mutually support each other.

More and more people are living in urban areas and the need for fresh and safe food is increasing every day. Intensive, integrated urban farming systems offer an opportunity to partially meet this need in a sustainable and effective way.

This aquaponic farm consists of a covered production space of 2,000 m² and an outdoor vegetable garden of 2,000 m², all in the heart of Brussels, on the famous site of the Abattoirs d’Anderlecht. BIGH has developed an ultra-modern aquaponics system where fish, fruit, vegetables and herbs grow in a zero-waste closed circuit.

To register for this activity, click here.

FARI. AI For the common good institute

FARI Datawalk

Cameras, sound beacons, digital billboards and even shared bicycles: since the last few years, cities like Brussels have been full of technologies that collect data about us. The Brussels research institute FARI has recently started organizing data walks, guided walks during which you will discover this virtual layer of the city. During this unique tour, you will learn about the different ways in which data is collected in the city and how data collection is transforming our cities and paving the way for “smart city applications. This guided walk was specially adapted for CurieuCity to the area around the West Station in Molenbeek.

FARI.brussels is a joint initiative of ULB and VUB that aims to develop, study and promote the deployment and management of Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics technologies in a reliable, transparent, open, inclusive, ethical and responsible manner.

To register for this activity, click here.

Karima Qias, Mahmonir, Adele, Ely

Chink of Light

Karima is a poet and artist, working with the mediums of calligraphy, textile and collage. Now based in Brussels, she will present the book and the expo Chink of Light that she made together with her siblings while fleeing for an uncertain future far from home.

Karima’s family is of Tajik origin and she was raised in Iran where she lived until 2017. Facing discrimination in Iran, Karima, her mother and six of her siblings made the difficult decision to journey by foot, truck and boat through Turkey, Lesbos and eventually to Athens. It was during this passage that Karima found strength by tuning into the sounds and connecting with nature, writing and collecting foliage. The results of her efforts were presented to the public for the first time when the Chink of Light exhibition was commissed in Athens in 2021.

Chink of Light is a poetry book composed by four young Tajik and Afghan women Karima, Mahmonir, Adele and Ely, who found themselves in Athens, Greece during the late 2010s. The book contains a sequence of haiku-style poems that express their experiences travelling from Iran through the mountains of Turkey, the Mediterranean Sea, Moria refugee camp on Lesbos island, and the city of Athens.

Chink of Light is being presented in multiple iterations: an exhibition featuring a handmade artists’ book collaboratively created by the girls, alongside their video portraits, accompanied by Persian (Farsi) poetry audio; and a chapbook with English translations which visitors can take home.

Within the context of this exhibition, Karima will propose an encounter with the visitors answering questions about her work. She will also host a haiku workshop on Saturday 4th May. Welcome to join.

Aline Yasmin

Sound poetry and other landscapes

This activity is only available in FR.

Poet Aline Yasmin moves around the city, in different places and circumstances, to produce a sound installation highlighting the diversity of Brussels.

The poetic project stresses the importance of listening to the city and valorizing the richness of its multicultural human presence, which she calls the poetic soundscape.

The audio sequences, looped for 18 minutes, are designed to immerse the audience in a listening experience that highlights the diversity of Brussels’ everyday voices. This soundscape is an attempt to capture the essence of Brussels through its sounds – human and otherwise – interwoven with its thoughts.

Faculteit Architectuur KU Leuven

Building like Leonardo

This activity is only available in NL-FR.

This activity for young and old was inspired by the genius insights and ingenious constructions of artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci. Rinus Roelofs, mathematician and also artist, created these unique building elements that allow you to create impressive constructions without the use of glue, string, nails or screws. All you need is your imagination, patience and a steady hand. Step into the world of architecture and ingenious design and discover the magic of construction. Lay out surprising patterns and experience how subtle changes can lead to remarkable movements and new designs. An exciting combination of art, science and engineering awaits you in this hands-on activity for all ages.

Repair Together asbl

Mobile Repair Café

Repair Together is a social association based on solidarity that helps and supports local initiatives to mobilise for the sustainable use of resources. Its aim is to pool the resources needed to create, develop and maintain the Belgian “Repair Cafés” in Brussels and Wallonia. Activity on the festival: object repair workshop, including an introduction to repair. Important: people need to bring their objects to repair.

Inforsciences - ULB

Plants to crunch

This activity is only available in FR

Workshop where young people learn the anatomy of a plant.

A tart with leaf stalks … of rhubarb? A tuber puree … of potatoes? Stewed pea seeds and fried carrots from carrots? What do we all actually eat when we talk about five fruits and vegetables a day? Let’s look at the anatomy of the plants (fruits and vegetables) on our plates, because everything in the plant world is a real treat!
During this workshop, children ages 8 to 12 will learn to make a connection between food in everyday life and the origins of the products we eat. By having fun in this “eating laboratory,” children gain an appreciation for the fruits and vegetables on their plates and learn about botany and the food pyramid.

Fabwest

Make your own planter

This activity is only available in NL-FR

Take part in this creative upcycling workshop! Upcycling is a form of recycling in which your product has the same or even better quality after processing: such as a new bag made from old denim or new furniture made from old oil barrels. Learn in this workshop how to make plant or garden boxes from agricultural textiles and wood.

This workshop is organized by FabWest, the fab lab at West Station. Seize this unique opportunity and learn to make useful items that will help reduce waste at the same time. Take your creation home afterwards as tangible proof of your commitment to the circular economy and ecological sustainability.

Fabwest, an initiative of Fablab’ke, wants to make young people aware of science and production processes. They focus on themes such as circular economy, climate, green energy, urban resilience and environmentally friendly mobility.