The Folklore Museum in Mouscron, which offers an insight into life in the border region, is set to open with a festive celebration shortly. A work of art has been cleverly integrated into the entire façade of the building, serving as ‘a discreet but not invisible’ reminder of the town’s history.

The decree of 10 May 1984 on the integration of works of art into public buildings takes up just a single A4 page of the Belgian Official Gazette. It is also known as the ‘percentage scheme’, as the client is obliged to allocate a small percentage of the construction costs to a commission for a work of art. The decree’s 10 articles immediately provide for the possibility of creating “artistic works […] using ordinary materials” during construction.