Did you know that the historic university town of Leuven in Belgium is the birthplace of the Big Bang Theory? This Autumn, Leuven will begin its three-month cultural fiesta to mark the 90th anniversary since Professor Georges Lemaître introduced this revolutionary theory at the University of Leuven. See how the Big Bang continues to inspire the world of art and science today with a full programme of live music, exhibitions, walking tours and renowned artworks and installations.

The Festival will bring together some of the greatest minds in art, culture and science such as Dr Thomas Hertog, a well-known Belgian cosmologist and physicist who gained his PhD under Stephen Hawking at University of Cambridge and British visual art curator Hannah Redler Hawes who headed up art programming for the London Science Museum. Masterpieces will be showcased from collections across Europe including British contemporary artists Richard Long and Mark Wallinger (best known for his empty fourth plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square) plus big 20th century names such as René Magritte, Constantin Brâncuși and Georges Vantongerloo. 

Four Major Exhibitions:

Four major art exhibitions will be held across the city of Leuven from October to January opening with The Edge of Time, an exhibition held against the historical backdrop of Leuven University Library exploring the intersection of science and contemporary visual arts. Curated by cosmologist and physicist Dr Thomas Hertog British visual arts curator Hannah Redler Hawes - this exhibition will blow your mind!

There's no need to be 'sciency', this is a must-see for everyone visiting Leuven. The exhibition charts scientific discovery from Albert Einstein's 'General Relativity Theory', to George Lemaître's discovery of an expanding universe and Stephen Hawking's Quantum Theory and the multiverse. 

The next exhibition, Imagining the Universe will showcase how the mysteries of the universe have been imagined by artists and philosophers from Antiquity to the 19th century. A special solo showcase of British artist Richard Long's work will also be held at art museum, M Leuven. Long - who studied at Central St Martin's in London and lives in Bristol - rearranges natural materials such as stone and wood into primal forms that reference the cosmos and the universe, one of the artist's greatest sources of inspiration. 

Finally, the exhibition An Eternal Gaze encourages visitors to explore life's big questions through the lens of religion and spiritual experience. How did we get here? Where are we headed? If human life is finite, what is the point of existence? This collection of work will show how the human mind has grappled with these difficult questions for centuries.

Explore a city-wide art installation the “Primaeval Atom”: 

From December, 80 locations across the city of Leuven will form part of a newly commissioned artwork by Paris-based Félicie d'Estienne d'Orves called the 'Primaeval Atom'. These installations will represent various galaxies, including a huge depiction of the primaeval atom near St Peter's Church. The installation scans the sky for galaxies and reveals those currently over Leuven – and their distance from it – in LED lights. 

The stunning creation perfectly captures what Leuven is all about - innovation, creativity, transcending boundaries, and seeing the world – and the universe – through a broader, more colourful lens.

The Planetarium Music Festival:

From 25th November to 5th December, prepare to be immersed in 360° visuals and music by Belgian and international headliners within a cosmic dome with surround sound offering a fully immersive VR experience. The second you set foot inside, your world explodes, and the universe becomes your new home!

What has the universe got in store for us? And how do artists see this infinite void, with its perils and mysteries? Under the cosmic dome, the images, beats, videos footage, and performance – all inspired by the universe – will wash over visitors, whisking them away. Surround sound and 360° projection guarantee an unforgettable cosmic experience. 

Panel Discussions:

In November, a panel discussion will be held by the curators of 'Imagining the Universe' and 'To the Edge of Time' exhibition led by Sir Ian Blatchford, Director of London's Science Museum. Come and learn about the intriguing intersection of art and science and get ready to have your mind blown.

Exploring Leuven:

Leuven is a small city with a big bang, just under 30 minutes from Brussels and easily accessible by Eurostar or short flight from the UK. Its centuries-old university has fostered ingenious ideas and often maverick professors. Its streets throng with students and bubble with energy and innovation. 

Visitors to Leuven can enjoy new walking tours including 'Clever Minds' - stepping into the history of its clever minds, past and present as well as discovering the boundary-pushing pioneering research going on today across several fields. Visitors can also enjoy a special tour of the city - Bang! In The Footsteps of Georges Lemaître - the man about whose findings Albert Einstein once remarked, 'This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened'.

For more information, visit www.bangfestivalleuven.be.