The first public cinema projection in Brussels took place in 1886 in the famous King’s Galery. Inaugurated 40 years earlier by King Lopold I, the King and Queen’s Galeries are one of Brussels’ most beautiful and monumental architectural works: 8m wide, 213m long and 18m high. At the time, the construction of its glass and cast iron roof was a true technical wonder.
In 1939, the Queens' Galeries opened their first cinema. In total, 11 cinemas have had the chance to occupy the historic infrastructure which has remained intact since then.
The latest of these, simply named “Galeries”, has quietly opened its doors last Wednesday, although there was a lot of noise made around the project among Brussels’ cultural elite “Galeries” indeed takes the place of “Cinéma Arenberg” which, despite public subsidies, high quality programming, an ambitious goal of educating and making cinema accessible to all and in return the true affection of Brussels’ cine enthusiasts, had not been paying its lease for several years.
The proposal of “Galeries” is equally ambitious. Independant films will be shown on state of the art technology, and the public will be invited to experience the Image in general and in all its forms (from web culture to visual arts and animation) through a 1000m2 exhibition space, a store and a mobile application.
A lot of expectations rest on the shoulders of “Galeries” founders. May the magic of the place, its history and the thrill of challenge bring them luck, and success!
Movies and showtimes: www.galeries.be