Antwerp Rallies to Save M HKA Amidst Flemish Government's Museum Reform Plans

Mass Protest Against Museum Restructuring

Approximately 4,000 people gathered in Antwerp, Belgium, to protest the Flemish government's proposed restructuring of the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), the country's oldest institution dedicated to contemporary art. The demonstration took place following an announcement by the Government of Flanders regarding a comprehensive reform of its museum landscape and visual arts sector.

Controversial Government Proposal

The core of the controversy stems from the Flemish government's plan to revoke M HKA's museum status by 2028, effectively transforming it into a 'kunstalle-style art centre'—an exhibition space without a permanent collection. This decision also involved the cancellation of a long-planned €80 million (or €130 million project budget) new building for M HKA. Initially, the proposal suggested relocating M HKA's collection of approximately 8,000 objects to the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.) in Ghent. The government justified these changes by citing a need for a 'more logical distribution' of public collections, aiming for greater cooperation, ambition, and internationalization within the regional museum system, based on an assessment that deemed M HKA 'insufficiently strong'.

Widespread Condemnation from the Art World

The announcement sparked immediate and widespread criticism from both local and international art communities. Bart De Baere, the director of M HKA, expressed his dismay, stating he was 'beyond flabbergasted by both the decision and its hollowness'. Herman De Bode, chairman of the M HKA board, resigned in protest, calling the government's decision 'too crazy to describe' and 'criminal'. Renowned Belgian artist Luc Tuymans also voiced his anger, describing the move as a 'loss of face for a city as important as Antwerp'.

International organizations also weighed in, with the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM) and its Museum Watch initiative labeling the decision 'potentially disastrous' and 'a significant loss' for Antwerp and Europe. AICA International registered its protest against the restructuring, and L'Internationale, a confederation of European museums, expressed its dismay, highlighting the lack of consultation with M HKA's leadership and stakeholders. An online petition titled 'Keep the M HKA collection in Antwerp!' quickly garnered significant support, collecting over 9,122 signatures.

Minister Gennez Clarifies Collection's Fate

In response to the outcry, Flemish Culture Minister Caroline Gennez provided clarification on October 16, 2025. She stated in Parliament that M HKA's collection would not be 'loaded onto trucks' and physically moved to Ghent. Instead, S.M.A.K. would assume responsibility for 'collection care' of the Flemish Community's contemporary art collection, while M HKA would retain access to all works and continue to exhibit them in Antwerp. Minister Gennez dismissed reports of a full transfer as 'fake news', emphasizing that M HKA would evolve into an international arts centre offering exhibitions, residencies, workshops, and educational programs. She maintained that the reform aimed to bolster the museum sector across Flanders and ensure better support for artists and public art collections.

Future of M HKA Remains a Key Concern

Despite the minister's clarification regarding the physical location of the collection, the M HKA is still set to lose its status as a traditional museum and transition into an international arts center by 2028. The future implications for M HKA's identity, its role in Antwerp's cultural landscape, and the broader Flemish art ecosystem continue to be a subject of intense debate and scrutiny within the art world.