Leuven, 22 October 2026 – Following several years of extensive restoration, Park Abbey in Leuven is entering a new chapter in its nearly 900-year history. One of Belgium’s best-preserved abbey complexes is now opening almost entirely to the public. To mark this milestone, Museum PARCUM presents Threading Landscapes: Art at Park Abbey, a major international contemporary art exhibition opening on Saturday 24 October. Bringing together 24 artists, the exhibition creates a dialogue between contemporary art and the abbey’s centuries-old architecture, history and surrounding landscape, offering a fresh perspective on this remarkable heritage site.
Contemporary art in a unique historic setting
Threading Landscapes offers a new perspective on the nearly 900-year-old abbey. From its historic reception rooms and magnificent library to the cloisters, former refectory and centuries-old attics, the exhibition takes visitors on an exceptional journey through the recently restored monastic complex.
Throughout the abbey, 24 international artists present works spanning sculpture, installation, textiles, film, sound and performance. Among the participating artists are Laure Prouvost, Pierre Huyghe, Cecilia Vicuña, Edith Dekyndt and Hana Mileti\u0107. Nine projects have been created specifically for the exhibition, responding directly to the abbey’s architecture, history and distinctive character.
The exhibition explores the connections between people, nature, history and memory. Through their work, the artists question how we inhabit the world, perceive our surroundings and relate to the landscapes and histories that shape us. Rather than serving merely as a backdrop, the abbey itself becomes an integral part of the artistic experience, creating an encounter in which contemporary art and centuries-old heritage illuminate one another.
“Threading Landscapes does not approach the landscape as something we observe from a distance, but as something we are part of. A place is constantly reshaped through the relationships between people, other forms of life, architecture, history and memory. The exhibition therefore invites us to consider not only the worlds we have inherited, but also those we wish to continue weaving together.”
\u200b\u200b— Katya García-Antón, Daniel Feldman, María Inés Rodríguez and Ana Sokoloff, curators of the exhibition
A new chapter for Park Abbey
The exhibition also marks a significant moment in the history of Park Abbey. Following an extensive restoration programme undertaken by the City of Leuven with the support of the Flemish Government, almost the entire monastic complex is now accessible to the public.
The restoration has revealed remarkable architectural details, historic interiors and centuries-old wall paintings, while carefully preserving the abbey’s historic character. Visitors can now explore spaces that were reserved for the Norbertine community for centuries, discovering the architectural and historical richness of this exceptional site.
With Threading Landscapes, the reopening also signals a broader ambition: to establish Park Abbey as a vibrant place for artistic creation, cultural exchange and reflection. By bringing contemporary art into this historic setting, the exhibition connects nearly nine centuries of history with questions about the world we live in today and the futures we might imagine.
“The restoration of Park Abbey is about more than preserving an exceptional historic monument. It also invites us to consider what role such a place can play today. With Threading Landscapes, the abbey once again becomes a space for encounters, artistic imagination and critical reflection. Heritage never tells a single, fixed story: each generation brings new meanings to it.”
\u200b\u200b—Stefan Van Lani, curator of Park Abbey
Festive opening weekend with free admission
On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, Park Abbey and Museum PARCUM will celebrate the reopening with a festive weekend for visitors of all ages. Throughout the weekend, the public will have the opportunity to explore the newly restored abbey and discover Threading Landscapes free of charge.
The opening offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Leuven’s most remarkable heritage sites, where nearly nine centuries of history meet contemporary artistic creation.
Find out more about the opening weekend here
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Threading Landscapes: Art at Park Abbey
\u200b24 October 2026 – 28 March 2027
During the opening weekend on 24 and 25 October, there will be additional supporting activities and admission is free.
Curators: Katya García-Antón, María Inés Rodríguez, Daniel Feldman, Ana Sokoloff
Artists
\u200bNoor Abed, Gabriela Albergaria, Leonor Antunes, Bianca Baldi, Rossella Biscotti, Ana María Caballero, Carlos Casas, Edith Dekyndt, Pierre Huyghe, Julia Isídrez, Tarik Kiswanson, Irene Kopelman, Eunjo Lee, Guadalupe Maravilla, María Angélica Medina, Hana Mileti\u0107, Felipe Mujica, Amol Patil, Laure Prouvost, Daniel Steegmann Mangrané, Erik Tlaseca, Ahmed Umar, Cecilia Vicuña and Meg Webster.
Production team
\u200bRossana Miele, Loes Verschuren, Juliana Ziebell, Fabrizia Ferragina, Blackbirds, The Side Up, Chris Pype.
PARCUM Museum
\u200b\u200bAbdij van Park 7
\u200b3001 Leuven
\u200bTuesday – Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00
\u200bClosed on Mondays
Tickets are now on sale via www.abdijvanpark.be
Standard: €16
\u200bLeuven residents and City of Leuven staff: €12
\u200b\u200b19–25 years: €6
\u200b\u200bUiTPAS reduced rate: €3
\u200bUp to and including 18 years old: free
Group tours available on request
View \u200b the exhibition creditshere
Press information & interview requests
Club Paradis
\u200b\u200bMicha Pycke
\u200b\u200b+32 (0)486 680 070
\u200b\u200bmicha@clubparadis.be
With the support of the Flemish Government, the City of Leuven, the Institut Ramon Llull, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – Delegation in France and the Office for Contemporary Art, Norway
\nSelection of iumages (download the images here - © Cédric Verhelst