SPARKOH! Lights Up Frameries with Mons en Lumières: Friday 13 and Saturday 14 February

A free, immersive cultural weekend for families and curious minds

In February, light becomes a language of its own in Wallonia. This year, the celebrated Mons en Lumières takes a bold step beyond the city centre, extending its glow to Frameries for the very first time.

On 13 and 14 February, the science centre SPARKOH! will open its doors free of charge, transforming its iconic site into a stage for large-scale light art, immersive videomapping and family-friendly experiences. The initiative marks a strong cultural collaboration between Mons, Frameries and SPARKOH!, with a shared ambition: to make culture accessible, meaningful and collective.

A strong territorial collaboration

A historic partner of Mons en Lumières, SPARKOH! is participating for the third time in the largest light festival in Wallonia. This new chapter goes one step further by decentralising part of the festival, offering a second, entirely free weekend in Frameries.

The collaboration brings together SPARKOH!, the City of Mons and the Municipality of Frameries, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Interreg VideoMap and the Walloon Region.

For Manu Disabato, Mayor of Frameries, the project reinforces social bonds through culture. Chris Viceroy, Managing Director of SPARKOH!, highlights the significance of illuminating the site and opening it to all after several years of collaboration.

Two breathtaking light installations

On Friday 13 and Saturday 14 February, from 6pm to 11pm, visitors will be invited to discover two exceptional light artworks created especially for the occasion.

Visages du Borinage

French artist Clément Lesaffre will transform the Crachet slag heap, at the entrance of SPARKOH!, into a monumental immersive projection. This videomapping experience, unprecedented in Belgium, lasts between 20 and 25 minutes and draws inspiration from the collective memory of the region’s mining heritage.

Built from real testimonies and archival narratives, the work blends image and sound to create a poetic tribute to the Borinage, magnifying the industrial landscape through light. The installation is a co-production between the cities of Mons and Frameries in collaboration with SPARKOH!.

Janua

Under the Belvedere, a second immersive videomapping installation will invite visitors into a more introspective journey. Created by Rémi Soyez, Fred Martin and Malik Djouad (Interreg VideoMap project), Janua explores the symbolic opening of the soul through sculpture, sound and image.

Inspired by tribal rituals and ancient cultures, the work evokes primal states of consciousness and cycles of transformation, offering a powerful sensory experience rooted in materiality and rhythm.

A free programme for all ages

Beyond the outdoor installations, SPARKOH! will offer a rich programme of indoor activities under the theme “Éveil Lumineux” (Luminous Awakening). The entire science centre will be accessible free of charge during the festival weekend.

Visitors can enjoy:

• Light painting workshops
• Phosphorescent face painting
• A luminous photo igloo
• Interactive animations
• The permanent exhibition Lumières, including its famous rainbow tunnel
• The iconic rolling chassis, illuminated especially for the school holidays

The programme is designed for families, teenagers and anyone curious about the science and poetry of light.

Carnival holidays: twice the light, twice the fun

The festival also marks the start of the Carnival holidays at SPARKOH!. From Saturday 14 February, families can take part in guided workshops led by scientific mediators, available by registration from the age of four.

Activities include:

• Exploring shadows for children aged 4–5
• Creating a carnival mask with a laser cutter (from 6 years)
• Discovering birds through interactive missions
• Videomapping and light painting (from 8 years)
• Building a cloud to understand invisible natural phenomena

Visitors can also discover the immersive 4D film La nature qui nous entoure, reconnecting audiences with the beauty and importance of nature through the seasons.

To celebrate Carnival, SPARKOH! will also host its traditional costume photo competition, offering families the chance to win a family subscription.

From 15 February to 1 March, the science centre will remain open daily from 10am to 6pm.

Practical information

SPARKOH! x Mons en Lumières
SPARKOH!, 3 rue de Mons, 7080 Frameries

Festival dates:
• Friday 13 February: 6pm–11pm (free entry, artistic night)
• Saturday 14 February: 10am–11pm (free entry, workshops and evening projections)

15 February – 1 March:
Open daily from 10am to 6pm (standard admission)

Free parking on site
Accessible by public transport (TEC lines 1 or 2)

Residents of Mons and its districts benefit from a special offer: one standard ticket purchased = one annual subscription offered, valid until 1 March.

Friday 13 February