BRUSSELS.- At the November 25 Council of Ministers, the government appointed Christophe Slagmuylder as Director General of
Bozar for a six-year term. He will start his new position in Brussels as of 1 February 2023.
Christophe Slagmuylder (born 1967, Brussels) has been active in the broad arts sector since 1991, with a focus on the performing arts. He made his name at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts, where he worked from 2002 to 2018, succeeding founder Frie Leysen as general and artistic director in 2007. This international arts festival featuring contemporary theatre, performance and dance takes place annually at various locations in Brussels. His career took an international turn with his appointment in 2018 as general and artistic director at the Wiener Festwochen, the prestigious multidisciplinary arts festival in Vienna.
His Brussels network, his experience with major international collaborations and his feel for contemporary arts in the broadest sense of the word fit seamlessly with the mission of the multidisciplinary and federal art house Bozar.
Christophe Slagmuylder: For me, Bozar is one of those fundamental places that embody artistic and intellectual life in Brussels and in the world, a house that has managed to cross eras and reflect its fluctuations and progress. I am very happy to define the identity of Bozar together with the team and to empower the image of the house, both today and tomorrow. Through this multidisciplinary arts centre, I want to explore how creative processes can contribute to the development of a sustainable, inclusive and egalitarian society. On a personal level, I am very much looking forward to returning to the inspiring context of Brussels; I think I can safely say that the city and I truly "understand each other."
His appointment follows a rigorous selection process initiated after the sudden death of the previous Director General. The new director was chosen from 30 viable applications. Applicants were selected based on specific criteria set by the Board of Directors. The Remuneration Committee, chaired by Ms Isabelle Mazzara, managed the entire process, with the assistance of an external recruitment firm. This subjected the candidates retained for final selection to an assessment.
Isabelle Mazzara, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Centre of Fine Arts: We are convinced that he is the right person to lead the Centre for Fine Arts to new and fascinating horizons. His vision characterises Bozar as a multidisciplinary space that puts historical heritage and contemporary creation in perspective. A space for meeting, participation and reflection in Brussels, in Europe and in the world. A clear and coherent vision to contribute to the development of a sustainable, inclusive and egalitarian society through creative and artistic processes.
Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Federal Cultural Institutions: ‘I am delighted to see Christophe Slagmuylder - art historian, art director and Brussels native - at the head of Bozar. He already has a special affinity for the institution. His qualities are widely appreciated, evidenced by his unanimous election by the Board of Directors. Under his leadership and in close consultation with the executive committee and the board of directors, Bozar will continue to develop as a high-quality cultural and artistic project. A project that connects, that generates a Brussels heartbeat and makes culture shine across Europe and beyond. I look forward to working with him.
