press & media

Jean-Marc Dimanche & Gilles Parmentier at ceramic brussels
© Geoffrey Fritsch

Gilles Parmentier & Jean-Marc Dimanche ,
Fair's co-founders

A few months before the doors open at Tour & Taxis, co-founders Gilles Parmentier and Jean-Marc Dimanche have agreed to share some valuable insights with us. They unveil the first highlights of the programme and share their vision for this new edition.

How are you feeling as the 4th edition approaches?

GP We can’t wait! Together with the whole team, we are making great progress on every detail of this new experience. We can already say that this edition will be even more impactful, inspiring and diverse than the last. The gallery selection has closed in early October, and their proposals promise to be more high-quality and varied than ever.

JMD The marathon is well and truly under way! We are moving at an excellent pace in preparing our exhibitions, especially the one devoted to our guest of honour, Marion Verboom, in close collaboration with her gallery’s team. At the same time, we are finalising the scenography for the 5 laureates of the ceramic brussels art prize. And of course, we still have plenty of surprises in store…

On that note, what will be the main highlights of this new edition?

JMD There are so many! To name just a few, we are launching a brand-new award to recognise the Best Group Show among the galleries. The call we sent to galleries for an "XL" trail has also received a very positive response: the fair will feature a series of never-before-seen monumental sculptures.

GP Our talks programme grows richer by the day, with great proposals exploring, among other things, the major upcoming exhibitions in European institutions and the powerful link between ceramics and politics. We will also shine a light on the vibrant Belgian art scene through a new off-site programme and an extended version of our exhibition pass.

Any projects to keep an eye on in the coming months?

GP We are delighted to open a new, exclusive VIP lounge, created in collaboration with MAD Brussels, and to bring back our Discovery Tours guided visits with our partner Puilaetco.

JMD We are proud to unveil an exclusive collaboration with ENSAV La Cambre as part of its 100th anniversary, through Letterrestres, a cross-disciplinary project that brings together the school’s ceramics and typography workshops.

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