European Capital of Culture
Cover photo © Olivier Donnet
Mons 2015 imagine
World. Europe. Belgium. Mons. On a map, the city is no larger than an pin head. A provincial city far from the lights of the capital, on the country’s border, Mons is beautiful. From its population so full of character to its turbulent History, from its artists to its underground secrets, this small region is capable of changing a destiny. Imagine… In 2015, Mons will be the European Capital of Culture. In 2015, it’s this city that has the chance to really put itself on the world map, but also to create its own map, its own contours and peaks. In 2015, with its inhabitants and with every piece of land that forms it, let us dare: Mons, city of wonders. 100 projects, 14 partner cities, 23 institutions, thousands of participants and you. A real cultural earthquake, from theatre to music, fashion to literature, this year will be an explosion of possibilities. Shows. Concerts. All-nighters. Community collaboration. New technologies. Exhibitions. Neighbourhood festivities. And to ensure that the effervescent Mons—the place where it all begins—is the capital for a long time after 2015, it will do it all with everything it is and with a boldness that surpasses boundaries. The countdown has begun. The explosive city is preparing itself. And even though the doors are still closed, it’s already creating sparks. For the rest, have patience, you’ll just have to use your imagination...
Mons 2015
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Ailleurs en folie It all starts with a big party. On the launch night, Mons 2015 will open its doors to let you discover: Mons, city of wonders. With you, together we’re creating a European Capital of Culture that measures up to our dreams. For 365 days you’ll be at the heart of a city that never sleeps.
Imagine… 24th January 2015, Magic in the air. A parade of phosphorescent dragons on the heights of the Belfry gardens. Strange, misplaced characters lighting up Place Léopold. An aerial circus in the heart Sainte-Waudru Collegiate church. On that night, anything is possible…
The wonder will begin on 24th January 2015.
Mons 2015
Imagine… Verlaine imprisoned at Mons where he wrote his most beautiful poems, Van Gogh who found the source of his genius in Borinage, St George who slew the dragon, represented by some of the greatest international artists. In 2015, not a week will go by without encountering incredible odysseys…
© Kröller-Müller Museum
Where so many discoveries have been made and a source of inspiration, the Mons region has been marked by great men and women: Van Gogh, Verlaine and St Georges all saw their destinies change here. In 2015, discover a range of exhibitions retracing sagas that turned Mons into a Superstar!
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Verlaine in prison. Van Gogh in Borinage. Mons the Superstar.
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A renowned stylist that dresses merchants? An international director taking your children on a journey? A musician that makes your grandparents sing? Until 2015, being a supporting artist means working closely with you to transform the city together, little by little…
Imagine… Jean-Paul Lespagnard: creator, designer, multimedia artist and Belgian stylist. A week of fashion where local talent is on top of the podium, sewing workshops, “made in Mons” outfits… The city as a material, the citizen as partner, a work that’s made to measure.
Jean-Paul Lespagnard. Wajdi Mouawad. Frédéric Flamand…
© Laetitia Bica
Mons 2015
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Mons 2015
Imagine‌ The Grand Place. A sunny day. A sunflower field has grown. A little magic. A painting by Van Gogh. In 2015 your days will begin differently
Surprising paths. Metamorphosed roads. Monumental works.
Š RÊgis Golay
In middle of a square, on the corner of your street, your balcony, in front of your local bookshop: urban art makes an appearance in everyday life. From amazement to amazement, Mons 2015 is turning the city upside down! Established artists or young talents, monumental works or surprising journeys, the city of Mons and its tangled streets will never be the same again...
Mons 2015
Imagine‌ A melody encounters a word written on a wall. An actor reads in the middle of a field. A dancer in your home. A neighbour on stage at the theatre. And evenings where you travel between resounding wonder, literary rapture, enchanting dance and breathtaking theatre.
Š Maarten Van den Abeele
In the dim light of an auditorium, living art transports, recounts and confronts. In 2015, Mons will become an epicentre of creativity. On stage, in the street but also in your home, the city will breathe the words, gestures and notes of today’s greatest artists.
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Sense. Feel. Listen. Read. Dream.
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Mons 2015
Imagine… The Skyscrapers of Tokyo. Tama New Town and its flashing screens. The paved streets of Mons to the sound of Japanese accents. Has the world been turned upside down? No, in 2015 this will all be here, in Mons.
Sleep in Tokyo. Eat in Milan. Dance in Lille.
© Grégoire Vanderheyden
In 2015, without the jet lag, passport or backpack, stop off in Glasgow, Milan, Lille, Casablanca... How about poutine from Montreal or goulash from Pilsen? Over a long weekend, discover the more surprising facets of the world’s great cities.
Mons 2015
Imagine… Nadia, 20, tells Emily, 88, how to boost her Facebook page. You’re in 2015 in a Café Europa. A place of connections and discussion where technology rhymes with cooperation, swapping, sharing and warmth.
© Droits réservés
“Where technology meets culture…” has been one of Mons 2015’s main investments since the start. Thanks to digital technologies, a range of opportunities has appeared and has added a whole new dimension to the words invent and enterprise. But to make sure that the virtual is no longer a matter of computers, we intend to bring it back to reality, closer to you.
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Café Europa. Life-size video games. Giant Mapping.
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Mons 2015
Imagine… A new design district. A cultural mile where the next masterpiece is just a few feet away. A new station. A Conference Centre. New museums. Mons will be a new city, a long time after 2015.
© Maud Faivre
From Sainte-Waudru to the Belfry, Mons is a city full of history and heritage. From its very foundations, the European capital aims to showcase its riches and contrast them with innovative contemporary architecture. We’re building a new city, developing our heritage and creating history for several generations to come…
A Congress Centre A design district. A railway station.
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In 2015, from Cuesmes to Villers-St-Ghislain, Mons and its surroundings will be the Capital. A whole region will be invited: an occasion for everyone to gather together, from street to street, door in door. Passionate about art and gardens, music and history, sport and knitting, imagine with us a city of festivities across 8 neighbouring regions…
Imagine… 8 weeks of festivities. Every region has its own week, its own theme, its own rules. A banquet in the middle of a public square, fun activities for children, readings on bicycles…
8 regions. 8 weeks of festivities. 8 secret itineraries. 8 giant banquets.
Festival Les Goûts uniques – Château des ducs de Bretagne, Nantes, septembre 2012, dans le cadre du Voyage à Nantes 2012 © Le goût et les couleurs
Mons 2015
Mons 2015
Imagine… You’re one of thousands building a city of wonder. You’re here or elsewhere. You seize the opportunity. You take part in building what will be a European Capital of Culture, in 2015 and for along time to come. © David Bormans
Young people who will be 20 years old in 2015. Restaurant keepers that organize gastronomic get-togethers. Ambassadors that inform their neighbours, families and friends. Citizens that inspire neighbourhood projects. Project directors that responded to our call. Artists. Associations. Journalists. The curious. The sceptical. The passionate. Sports fans. Music lovers. Foodies. Night owls. Architects. Dreamers.
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Young people. Mechanics. Restaurant keepers. Firemen. Dreamers.
Mons 2015
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Official partners
Media partners
Institutional partners
Project partners
Institutions
Cities
BPS 22, Centre for Engravings and Prints, Charleroi-Danses, Le Château de Seneffe, La Fabrique de Théâtre, Festival 5/5, Hainaut-Cinéma, Grand Hornu Images, The Keramis – Centre for Ceramics, MAC’s (Museum of comtemporary art), The Keramis – Centre for Ceramics, Le manège.mons, The Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes, The Mundaneum, The Museum of Photography (Charleroi), The Royal Museum of Mariemont, The Mons Museum of Natural History, The International Carnival and Mask Museum, The Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, Pairi Daiza, The Pass, TechnocITé, Transcultures, Wallimage, The World Crafts Council.
Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Charleroi, Gent, Kortrijk, La Louvière, Liège, Lille, Maubeuge, Mechelen, Namur, Valenciennes, Wallonie picarde.
Head Publisher Yves Vasseur
Design Delights
Mons 2015
And numerous towns …
Fondation Mons 2015 106 rue de Nimy 7000 Mons
contact@mons2015.eu +32(0)65 36 2015
www.mons2015.eu
European Capital of Culture