From a baby alpaca getting a prosthetic leg and an international star spotted in Antwerp to Flagey helping young musicians get a foot in the door, here is The Brussels Times' weekly round-up of positive news from around Belgium to brighten up your day.
Today's positive pick
Brussels-based Flagey is once again joining forces with French-Belgian bank BNP Paribas Fortis to guide young musicians to successful careers, the cultural centre told Belga News Agency.
"By combining artistic and financial support, the 'Flagency' initiative is a programme for young up-and-coming talent. Musicians need more than talent alone to gain a foothold in the music industry. Thanks to Flagency's artistic and financial support, young artists can focus fully on their careers," Flagey explained.
A maximum of five new Belgian and international talents can count on three years of support within the Flagency programme. Flagey will supervise the artists, while BNP Paribas Fortis will provide financial expertise and guidance.
The bank will provide the musicians with personal advice on sound financial management, customised loans and insurance and international banking.
For the programme's first edition, Flagey selected four artists, including Marco Mantovani (pianist, born in 1992 in Italy), Arthur Possing (pianist, born in 1996 in Luxembourg), Elodie Vignon (pianist, born in 1984 in France) and Aleksey Shadrin (cellist, born in 1993 in Ukraine, also laureate from the Queen Elisabeth Competition).
The first edition's four artists from left to right: Marco Mantovani, Arthur Possing, Elodie Vignon and Aleksey Shadrin. Credit: Flagey / Eric Engel / India Lange / Shadrina
"We are extremely happy to be able to offer this support to artists who are on the verge of breaking through or taking the next step in their careers. We can do so partly thanks to the support of BNP Paribas Fortis, not only financially but also in terms of the business side of being an artist," stated Flagey's general manager, Gilles Ledure.
"Artists are primarily concerned with the creative aspect of their profession, but could certainly still use some advice and help with the business aspect."
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Other stories to make you smile:
1. Alpaca foal given prosthetic leg by Flemish orthopaedist
The lower part of alpaca foal Oracle's foreleg was amputated below the wrist joint a few weeks ago. This is the third time the animal orthopaedist has made a prosthetic leg for an alpaca. Read more here.
2. Irish actor Cillian Murphy spotted in Antwerp
Irish actor Cillian Murphy is in Antwerp for a new film, and a vegan restaurant was lucky enough to host the international star and his crew for lunch on Tuesday. Read more here.
3. 'Tactile Tour' art exhibition for blind and visually impaired comes to Brussels
Running until 18 November, the visually impaired can touch and listen their way through 12 reproductions of paintings and tapestries, all created as 3D prints. Read more here.
4. Northern Lights were visible in Belgium on Sunday evening
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, graced multiple locations in Belgium and the Netherlands on Sunday night, shared in photographs on various social media networks. Read more here.
5. Belgians have sixth highest incomes in EU
Belgians have the sixth highest median incomes in the EU, according to a recent report by Eurostat, the EU's official statistics office. Read more here.
