FAMILY WEEKEND ABC HOUSE 3 AND 4 OCTOBER 2026
ENDLESS THREAD
With a single stitch, you can bring something that’s falling apart back together again, or repair something that’s broken. Small holes, tears, loose seams, or even a small cut on your skin can be fixed this way.
There are many kinds of fabrics that we can unravel, dissect, tear apart, and piece back together like a puzzle, so that hidden stories emerge and new ones are created.
Make Design Matter. Natural fibers form new threads with which our needles create drawings, bringing together craftsmanship, expertise, and people. We find peace in embroidery and weaving; we drape a piece of fabric around our bodies and twirl about, wrapped in a dress or tunic that turns us into a sculpture.
We study different types of textiles under the microscope and compile our own “Textilepedia.”
Rethink, Repair, Reuse, and only then Recycle. Welcome!
PRACTICAL
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026 // 10h-17h
ABC House, Place Gaucheret 13, 1030 Brussels
All ages
No registration required, except for the performance.
TO BE IS TO WEAVE
Exhibition and Workshop in collaboration with Huis Perrekens
“To Be is To Weave” is a collective textile art project that builds on a long tradition at Huis Perrekens, a residential and care continuum for people with dementia, where art and culture are interwoven with everyday life. At various locations, residents, children, young people, volunteers, staff, family, and friends work together on small and large looms. The guiding principle is to engage and strengthen everyone’s potential. Weaving serves as a metaphor for tying together loose ends caused by forgetfulness or confusion and symbolizes the inclusion of people with dementia in the social fabric.
During the family weekend, we invite people of all ages to join us in weaving and thus further spread the power of To Be is To Weave.
PRACTICAL
Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 2026
Continuously from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All ages
Photo: © Stijn Bollaert
OKAPI – KLANKENNEST
An interactive, musical performance for the very youngest, an ever-changing and meandering landscape sculpted from sound, movement, and clay.
Just like the animal—graceful and playful, familiar and mysterious—the performance bridges worlds.
OKAPI takes you on a journey through old and new music, familiar and innovative instruments, structure and freedom.
An invitation to play and explore endlessly.
A co-production of: HET LAB – Hasselt, 2turvenhoog, ABC, Leietheater, CC Zwanenberg, Musica Impulscentrum
Photo: © Johan Beckers @bakurophoto
PRACTICAL
Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 2026
Performance 1: 10 a.m. for children ages 8 to 24 months
Performance 2: 12 a.m. for children ages 2 to 4 year (fully booked on Saturday 03/10 and on Sunday 04/10)
Performance 3: 3:00 p.m. for children ages 8 to 24 months
Registration is recommended; seating is limited.
A maximum of two accompanying adults per child.
VIENS JOUER !
Book Presentation and Mini-Exhibition by Fanny Dryer and Carole Saturno
Building, pretending, making things up, playing while singing—indoors, outdoors, in all seasons, with paper, rubber bands, marbles, or string: the possibilities are endless and spark the imagination.
This book contains more than 49 games, recipes, instructions, and songs to play alone or with others. It also tells the story of how people have been playing since time immemorial and all over the world.
In our labo class, you can visit a small exhibition featuring sketches and drawings by the illustrator and a selection of books from the ABC collection that served as inspiration for *Viens jouer!*.
You can also purchase the book on-site and have it signed.
PRACTICAL
Saturday, October 3
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
ONDER
TIPTOE Print / Kamishibai Storytelling and Book Launch
On Sunday, the doors to the lab classroom will be wide open! Discover a selection of poetic picture books from the Brussels-based publisher TIPTOE Print and chat with the publisher… At the same time, TIPTOE Print is launching a brand-new title: the whimsical picture book “ONDER” by English author/illustrator Dylan Hewitt, translated by Bart Moeyaert.
You’ve surely wondered at least once what’s hiding underneath things. Under the bed. Under the rug. Under the cat? There’s got to be something, right? Or not? A monster? A troll? A mouse?
Come join us for some spooky fun and giggles with the kamishibai storytelling of “ONDER”! You’ll also have the chance to buy the book.
For everyone ages 3 and up.
PRACTICAL
Sunday, October 4
Doors open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Kamishibai storytelling + book launch at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.