Light artwork for Leuven Town Hall

Overview

The City of Leuven, LOV2030, and Shift seek an artist or artist collective to create a temporary light artwork projected onto the scaffolding canvas of Leuven's historic Gothic town hall during Wintertijd. The work will be developed through a participatory process with young people aged 12–25 from Shift, a digital youth centre.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: 1 September 2026
• Exhibition period: 8 December 2026 to 10 January 2027

The Commission

• Budget: €50,000 including VAT and production costs
• One-off, temporary commission developed specifically for the town hall
• Light sculpture that is aesthetically and conceptually strong, visually appealing, and accessible to a broad audience
• Must engage in dialogue with the architecture, façade, and/or sculptural elements of the building
• Technical simplicity and feasibility are important

Participatory Process

The artist will work with Shift's digital youth workers to involve young people in developing and realizing the artwork. The form of collaboration may vary in intensity and form, provided the participating young people experience real involvement and co-ownership. Shift operates with a deliberately low threshold: no registrations or fixed workshops, free walk-in and walk-out, no obligations.

Selection Process

Selection takes place in two rounds. Round 1 requires an application file (max. 15 pages, excluding appendix) explaining the artistic vision for both the artwork and the participatory process, including how the work relates to the town hall and how young people will be involved.

About the Partners

• City of Leuven: The 15th-century Gothic town hall will reopen in 2029 as the Town Hall – European House for Democracy, a highlight of Leuven as European Capital of Culture 2030.
• LOV2030 – Leuven & Beyond: The cultural initiative under which Leuven and 30 municipalities of East Brabant were designated European Capital of Culture 2030, using culture to build a warmer, more connected region.
• Shift: A digital and creative youth centre in the Schouwburg of Leuven where young people aged 12–25 experiment free of charge with digital media and technology with a focus on social inclusion.

Context

From summer 2026, the Gothic Town Hall will be covered in scaffolding for restoration work. The scaffolding will be fitted with a canvas bearing a realistic photo print of the façade. During Wintertijd, Leuven's annual end-of-year festival, the city wants to temporarily light up the town hall with a light sculpture that offers artistic added value and is accessible to a broad audience.