EXI(S)T was originally an exhibition of contemporary Belgian photography in public spaces. The idea was to make art accessible to all by counteracting the trend of digitalisation. From June to September, the heart of the capital was literally invaded by countless images. Nearly 100 photographs by 50 photographers were displayed in a variety of cultural advertising spaces, replacing the traditional posters of events cancelled due to the public health crisis. Since December, the EXI(S)T works have also been distributed in book format free of charge in the streets, in book boxes and on railway station platforms. EXI(S)T offers an alternative artistic experience through the photographers' views of the current period.

Project date: June to September 2020

In order to meet the accommodation needs of homeless people suffering from COVID-19, Tour&Taxis provided more than 8,000m² free of charge for a triage centre managed by Doctors Without Borders in collaboration with Samu Social and BXLRefugees. This infrastructure was set up to enable homeless people, vulnerable migrants and undocumented people with COVID-19 symptoms to isolate, be tested and receive suitable care under good conditions. The centre was able to accommodate up to 150 patients at the same time.

Project date: April 2020

BeCook! is a business incubator which supervises food-related project leaders who want to start out (again) after the pandemic. These entrepreneurs are supported and have access to compatible infrastructure and the digital tools necessary for their success. Thanks to BeCook!, 13 entrepreneurs were able to start or resume a project in 2020 and were able to generate 46 full-time equivalent jobs. BeCook! is also a GoodFood ambassador. The project is housed in the Greenbizz buildings and has a reduced ecological impact thanks to the use of solar energy generated by the building. Thanks to these measures, BeCook! saved more than 33 tonnes of CO2 in 2020. The facilities were also converted to be fully accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

Park Poétik is the COVID-proof alternative to the SuperVliegSuperMouche festival. During the summer of 2020, socio-cultural partners, artists and residents joined forces to organise a participative artistic summer. The public spaces of the communes of Saint-Gilles and Forest were used as places for artistic meetings for both young and old. Over 150 activities flooded the streets, parks and squares with poetry. Street theatre, play areas, circus acts, performances, mobile sound system... the artists did not lack ingenuity when making this free and long-lasting open-air event a reality.

Project date: 1 July to 31 August 2020

At the height of the 2nd lockdown, Espace Catastrophe showcased the circus with its Circus in the City project. 29 circus artists brought life to seven bistros that were closed in seven Brussels communes. Based on a random schedule and times that were not advertised - to avoid gatherings - the artists gave brand-new performances, created in situ, offering passers-by a few furtive and ephemeral moments of exchange, off-stage and off-camera. During these three and a half months, Circus in the City gave the city a new lease of life, re-connecting artists with audiences and (re)creating lost links.

Project date: from November 2020 to March 2021