The Leuven City Archive invites the public on Saturday, October 10th, for its Open Archive Day. Visitors can discover the archive's operations through guided tours, a book sale, a lecture, and a competition. This year, the unique collection of Leuven film posters takes center stage.
The archive houses an extensive collection of hundreds of thousands of documents and artifacts documenting the city's history and administration, with records dating back to the 14th century. Alderman of culture Bert Cornillie emphasizes the importance of making this wealth of information accessible and highlights the archive's excellent state of preservation, noting it is among Belgium's best-kept city archives.
The film poster collection spans various genres, including children's films, local and Belgian productions, and artistic designs, offering a unique glimpse into daily life and the film culture of Leuven.
At 2 PM, film experts Leen Engelen and Roel Vande Winkel will give a free lecture in Het Atelier in Tweebronnen, exploring the stories behind the posters and their historical significance. Visitors can also participate in a competition by answering film-related questions found in the reading room.
Open Archive Day also provides an opportunity to meet the archive staff and learn more about the archive's operations. However, the behind-the-scenes tours of the archive depot are already fully booked. The event runs from 10 AM to 5 PM at Rijschoolstraat 4.
