Contemporary artists of Belgium finally have the showcase they deserve. This June, the City of Brussels opened a new 1,000sqm gallery space, La Centrale électrique, or the European Centre of Contemporary Art. The First Alderman Henri Simons says of the new establishment, “Confronted by the lack of a centre of its kind in the cultural landscape of Brussels, repeatedly suggested by artists, art-world professionals and the public, I decided to dedicate this extraordinary, semi-industrial space in the heart of downtown to the art of our time. Now the new centre is a reality and I am delighted with it.”

The centre, conveniently located not far from the Grand’Place, occupies a building constructed around 1901 that originally housed the City’s power station. As such, with ceilings measuring up to nine metres high, it provides the perfect blank canvas for showing artwork. There will be no permanent collection but instead four major shows a year presenting established Belgian and international artists. There are also youth workshops and a pedagogical programme that will accompany each exhibition.

Zoo, the opening exhibition, explores the animal in contemporary art. Thirty Belgian and international artists present artworks questioning the ambiguity of the relation that binds man and animal; here are a few examples (pictured).

Zoo runs from 23 June – 8 October 2006. There will also be a colloquium called “Animal’ on 22 September at City Hall in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Fine Art of the City of Brussels. For info tel: +32 (0)2 279 64 35.

La Centrale électrique, 44 Place Sainte-Catherine, 1000 Brussels, tel: +32 (0)2 279 64 31, www.brupass.be