The new Flemish literary magazine nY premieres this week. Pronounced “nu”, the new quarterly is a fusion of Yang and Freespace nieuwzuid. The first edition contains articles on writer Kristien Hemmerechts and philosopher Baruch Spinoza.

nytijdschrift.blogspot.com

A 12-hour marathon reading of the works of Flemish author Willem Elsschot will take place on 7 May in Antwerp’s Central Station, on the occasion of the 127th anniversary of his birth. The reading begins at 7.00, with readings by writers such as Tom Naegels and Joke Van Leeuwen, actor and singer David Davidse and city culture alderman Philip Heysen.

www.destadvanelsschot.be

Members of the public can take a look inside the studios of 100 Brussels artists on May 17, as part of the VISIT intercultural arts festival. The artists, both professional and amateur, work in various media and include representatives from a number of nationalities and cultures.

Brussels is spending €2 million to install an artistic lighting plan on the buildings of the Kunstberg, public works minister Pascal Smet announced last week. The plan will be designed by Guillaume Joél, who is responsible for the much-celebrated urban lighting in Ghent. In Brussels, the lighting will begin on the Koningsplein, then cover the Musical Instruments Museum, with completion scheduled for 2012.

Winsome singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega has been booked to perform at the open-air theatre in Antwerp’s Rivierenhof Park in July. Vega will be part of a series of concerts in the park, which includes Bart Peeters, UB40, Sinead O’Connor and the Jef Neve Trio. It was also announced that Alice Cooper will perform at Rock Zottegem on 10 July.

Flemish artist Jan Fabre was awarded an honorary doctorate by Antwerp University last week for his services to the arts. Fabre – who has worked in opera, theatre, painting and film – was described as “an absolutist who only gives up when perfection has been attained”.