WCC-BF

Three principal objectives are at the heart of the WCC•BF’s activity: the promotion of their artists’ members in Belgium and abroad; the information and the formation of the public and professionals in those fields thanks to exhibitions, conferences and workshops.

The gallery’s ground floor is dedicated to the artists’ latest creations which are always more innovative and daring. The thoroughness of the selection of those works doesn’t impede with the warmth of the space, which is conducive to the tea tasting which is offered in handmade bowls.

Special attention is devoted to the creators of the future. With this in mind, the association organizes annually the Tremplin exhibition which is a contest aimed at students who just graduated from art schools in Wallonia and Brussels. The exhibit of their final and graduation works offers a new scenery of the prospecting creative activity in Belgium, while giving a professional boost thanks to the Awards given for the occasion.

The WCC•BF doesn’t only value and promote Belgian artists. They also organize temporary exhibitions which gather national and foreign artists, sometimes in collaboration with other institutions, in order to offer to the public but also to the artists the opportunity to contemplate works from creators abroad and in this way foster the dialogue, the stimulation and the emulation.

Its participation in exhibitions and international fairs confirms that goal by highlighting artistic exchanges between the Belgian and foreign creation while offering their artists, who are members of the organization, the chance to have recognition throughout Europe.


History and premises
The WCC-BF was founded in 1981, under the auspices of the World Crafts Council, an NGO recognised by UNESCO. Over time and as it grew, the WCC-BF gained the support of public authorities and private institutions, such as the city of Mons, the Province of Hainaut, the French Community in Belgium, the National Lottery and the European Union, with which it formed various partnerships.

Since 2006, the WCC-BF has occupied premises in the beautifully renovated former Mons slaughterhouse. Built in 1884 by the architect Sury, it comprises three Lombard style buildings: the cattle shed where the WCC-BF has its offices, organises temporary exhibitions, displays the work of its members and arranges legal advice; the Great Hall, with a floor area of 700 m2 which houses large exhibitions, centred particularly on the applied arts. The keys to this space, managed by the city council, are given to the WCC-BF once a year to allow it to use the entire complex as a showcase for the applied arts; and finally, the cold store, converted into an audiovisual space, where conferences, training courses, etc. are regularly held


Our facilities:
Temporary exhibition space
Showcase for crafts
Documentation centre


WCC-BF Staff:
Suzanne Papier, secretary - suzannepapier@wcc-bf.org
Johanne Schadron, project manager - johanneschadron@wcc-bf.org
Ornella La Vaccara, PR manager - ornellalavaccara@wcc-bf.org