Museum Under Renovation Lends Artworks to Neighbors' Homes

The Musée d'Ixelles in Brussels has launched an initiative called "10 of our artworks to our neighbours!" allowing ten local families to host an artwork from the museum's collection in their homes for a weekend. The program runs for six weekends over three years, coinciding with the museum's closure for renovations until autumn 2021. Each family chooses from 40 available works, becoming "ambassadors" for the piece. On Saturday, the family enjoys the artwork privately; on Sunday, they open their home to neighbors for visits. For security, the artwork is collected each evening and returned in the morning. Smoking, cooking, and pets are prohibited near the work. The idea originated from the Belgian association Patrimoine à Roulettes, which promotes cultural heritage education through innovative formats. The first event on June 23–24, 2018, was a success, with many downloading maps from the museum's website to visit neighbors. The museum's renovation, designed by Belgian firm B-architecten, includes interior and exterior upgrades, a new bookshop, café, educational spaces, children's areas, and an expanded second-floor gallery. The museum currently comprises a 19th-century slaughterhouse, a 1970s wing, and an adjacent private house used for offices.