Every Antwerp Art Weekend, we present an OFF Program that puts temporary exhibitions and initiatives by artists, galleries, and institutions that are not regular Antwerp Art members in the spotlight, highlighting Antwerp's vibrant art scene that is forever in flux! The following 15 initiatives form this year's OFF Program and were selected through an open call:

AAIMACHINE, All My Friends Are Scientists, Archipel, BOOOOOKS, DE SINGEL, Dingen Die Niet Verkopen, FAAR, From Me To You Space, Galerie Christophe Gaillard, Het Orakel / The Oracle Gallery at De Studio, SECONDroom, Studio-Vanpoucke at Bernaerts Gallery, Temp, and ZIJspoor

AAIMACHINE is the studio and gallery of artist Lieven Segers, in which public or private artistic interventions take place at an irregular rhythm. For the exhibition ASHIMOTO AND THE GIANT LEAP, the Japanese shoe label GROUNDS enters a dialogue with the work of eleven contemporary artists: bridging the worlds of art and fashion. This also nods to the space's former use as a sewing machine repair shop, which provided the name for the space. It's previous window sticker 'naaimachines' [sewing machine], was missing its first letter, and so, AAIMACHINE was born.

Discover the exhibition here.

All My Friends Are Scientists is a new non-binding collective initiated by artist Roeland Tweelinckx. The core idea behind All My Friends Are Scientists is to bring together emerging and mid-career artists from Europe and beyond by curating and organizing exhibitions. These artists share a common attitude and vision, with the aim of creating collaborative projects that foster and strengthen nonprofit values and initiatives.

Discover the exhibition here.

Archipel is an artist-managed workplace in the North of Antwerp, an area under urban development. Since the summer of 2023, Archipel has moved to its new location in the former ENGIE building. This site is currently occupied by around 50 artists with various profiles, who are setting up their temporary workplace there. Archipel is a dynamic site and meeting place, so expect a series of multi-disciplinary, site specific and eclectic works by their old and new members, exhibited at the former ENGIE site.

Discover the exhibition here.

BOOOOOKS is a space in Antwerp dedicated to showcasing independent publishing and related ideas. They stock a focused selection of works from independent publishers and artists working internationally, whose creations are not found in the usual distribution circuits. Alongside that, they present an occasional programme of exhibitions, events, launches, talks, etc. At their new location in Florastraat 31, they continue to invite one publishing practice at a time, and in parallel present a cumulative, year-long exhibition of works by one artist.

Discover the exhibition here.

DE SINGEL is located in a unique building on a multifaceted arts site. They connect communities with artists and art practices across the globe. Building on a fascinating artistic past, DE SINGEL invites a broad audience to experience music, theatre, dance and architecture in all their variety and to discover fresh, contemporary perspectives. During Antwerp Art Weekend, they offer guided tours with curator Heidi Ballet. In these tours, you'll discover the permanent works by world-renowned artists across their campus.

Discover the exhibition here.

Dingen Die Niet Verkopen is a non-profit, artist-run try-out space for visual arts, performance and music in the middle of Antwerp's old city center. Established during the Covid-19 pandemic, they started showing projects in their vitrine to appease the public's cultural hunger without infringing upon social distancing measures. Their current spring and summer program ‘Nomnomnom’ entirely revolves around food and the use of food in the arts, making for a perfect segue into the street market they are showing during Antwerp Art Weekend.

Discover the exhibition here.

FAAR is an organization run by 27 artists that was founded in 2021 at a former brewery in Antwerp's Deurne disctrict. Born from their need to find studio space after graduation, and to maintain the sense of community that formed during their studies, the artists that make up FAAR cooperated to house their practices. Next to their studios, they also host temporary exhibitions and projects at their current location in the Kistemaeckersstraat. During Antwerp Art Weekend, the artists of FAAR present 'Non Stop Ultra', an exhibition at the impressive location of the historic Keizersbastion.

Discover the exhibition here.

From Me To You Space is an artist-run space in Borgerhout, founded by Maud Vande Veire and Emmanuel Depoorter. Growing out of the activities of From Me To You publications, their main focus lies on the presentation of artist books. Every year, they work with an overarching theme that runs through their program, focussing on practices engaged with words, languase, and writing in 2025. For Antwerp Art Weekend, From Me To You Space works with Carl Haase, inviting four artists for an exhibition that shifts its focus each day.

Discover the exhibition here.

Galerie Christophe Gaillard was founded in Paris in 2007, and opened its second gallery in 2023 in Brussels, opposite the future Kanal-Pompidou museum. In 2020, the gallery had already opened the "Le Tremblay" residence in Normandy, an exceptional cultural venue that welcomes artists and authors for residency programmes. In 2024, it has further strengthened its presence in this region by opening 'L'Usine', a vast space comprising a showroom and storage area. Renowned for its strong representation of women artists, the gallery showcases both emerging talents and major figures in contemporary art. For Antwerp Art Weekend, Galerie Christophe Gaillard has opened a temporary location in Antwerp.

Discover the exhibition here.

Galerie Micheline Szwajcer was founded in 1981 in Antwerp's South area. The gallery distinguishes itself by curating a select group of artists from its extensive history, focusing on promoting a more concise roster. During Antwerp Art Weekend, they're presenting an exhibition of the Belgian artist duo Jos de Gruyter & Harald Thys, showcasing the gallery's commitment to presenting artists exploring the boundaries and essence of their mediums with a nuanced approach.

Discover the exhibition here.

The Oracle Gallery / Het Orakel is an artist-run gallery founded by Annea Lyvv Dreisz (Sylvia Vandeurzen). During Antwerp Art Weekend, the gallery will take over De Studio to stage a theatrical evocation of a shoe shop. An eclectic group of artists who have used shoes, or images of shoes in their work will show a ‘shoework’ that visitors can interact with. The shoe as a symbol of ones’ identity and belief never ceases to amaze, and to highlight the theatrical aspect, the exhibition will swirl around the ever fascinating text of the song ‘Walk a Mile in my Shoes’ by Elvis Presley.

Discover the exhibition here.

SECONDroom is an independent platform that has been organizing single-day exhibitions since 2006. The initiative was founded by Christophe Floré in his private house in Brussels. A room on the first floor was transformed into an exhibition space where a different artist was given carte blanche to show work during a public exhibition every Saturday. SECONDroom is now based in Antwerp and shows 'An Ideal for Living', a group exhibition where artists participated through an open call to add their works to a diorama of model trains - a miniature utopia.

Discover the exhibition here.

Studio-Vanpoucke is an Antwerp-based screen printing studio which commissions and produces editions by leading and emerging artists, founded in 2020. The artistic vision is to create multiples with a unique artistic expression. Studio-Vanpoucke considers their expertise not only as reproducing artworks, but aims to approach their printing process as a graphic practice with its unique possibilities. They aim to produce the finest editions in direct dialogue with the artist, with a clear artistic vision. During Antwerp Art Weekend, the studio curates an exhibition at Bernaerts Gallery showcasing works from the past three years, offering a rare glimpse into its collaborations.

Discover the exhibition here.

Temp was founded by Dimitris Siokis and Brent Decraene as a temporary artist-run exhibition platform in 2024, at a former car showroom in Antwerp's Borgerhout disctrict. After five projects, they have left their temporary space and are now organizing nomadic projects. For Antwerp Art Weekend, they are collaborating with Filip Collin in a new space in the historical center. Their exhibition ‘Open fields’ is inspired by the energy of a shared table, where different voices contribute to a rich and diverse polyphony of ideas and perspectives, with a selection of 15 visual artists and performers.

Discover the exhibition here.

ZIJspoor is an artists' collective founded by Elise Willems and Demi Cocquyt. The exhibition for Antwerp Art Weekend includes contributions by 44 artists, and is designed to support emerging female talent with emphasis on the full self-determination and autonomy of the participating artists. "ZIJ" [she] and "spoor" [track] has a dual translation, also meaning “sidetrack,” symbolizing the choice of an alternative, non-regular route in art, breaking through traditional structures to explore new avenues. Fittingly, the exhibition takes place at Antwerp's old Court of Appeals, which is currently out of use.

Discover the exhibition here.

Become part of the Antwerp Art Weekend program by participating in our 2026 OFF Program. Keep an eye on our social media, or subscribe to our newsletter, and get notified when the open call for goes live!