On Saturday 24 January the Belgian town of Mons launched its year as the European Capital of Culture 2015 with a tremendous party of 100,000 people who came to witness a spectacular night of art exhibitions and installations, dance performances, video screenings, theatre and concerts, fashion, fire, clowns and musicians. It set the scene for a whole year of events that make at least one visit worth planning to this little known town, not far from Brussels, famous for its World War battles and Industrial Revolution mines, reinventing itself today as the European headquarters of Google data, a futuristic technology hub. The major exhibition already started and running till May id Van Gogh in the Borinage, a moving show that chronicles the early days of Venicent van Gogh, living in the poor mining villages around Mons – the Borinage – and finally being inspired here in his first steps to becoming a painter……and full calendar of the year’s events and parties – www.mons2015.eu
Here is a slideshow that gives a snapshot of the word and wonderful events that took place the night of 24 January…….