Antwerp art sector takes the Flemish Community to court over the future of M HKA
24 September 2026 - 9:14 am – Press release
The M HKA is looking for a new general and artistic director, but candidates are given no guarantees whatsoever: after the transition project ends in 2028, it is completely unclear whether the museum will retain its museum status. The Flemish Government scrapped the 130-million-euro new building without any justification, while the collection, the archive and the budget are being hollowed out. Antwerp risks becoming, by 2029, the only European metropolis of its size without a fully fledged museum of contemporary art. Seven Antwerp galleries, Team Zuid and Museum at Risk have therefore taken the Flemish Community to court; the case will be heard on 26 May 2027.
Read the full press release hereMajor Budget Cuts to Culture | Sign the Petition
23 September 2026 - 9:13 pm – Appeal
Press reports suggest a possible 10% cut to culture. While culture represents barely 0.72% of the Flemish budget, it delivers enormous social and economic value. After previous cuts and incomplete indexation, the sector's financial resilience is exhausted.
Sign the petition against the cut.
Read the full appeal hereCollective of Antwerp Galleries Issues Formal Notice of Default to Minister of Culture Gennez
3 April 2026 – Press release
A collective of Antwerp art galleries, including Tim Van Laere Gallery, Frank Demaegd (Zeno-X), Sofie Van De Velde, Rik Rosseel, and Keteleer Gallery, today issued a formal notice of default to the Flemish Minister of Culture regarding the plans announced on October 3, 2025, to restructure the Flemish museum landscape and the abrupt decision to cancel the long-planned new construction of the M HKA.
“Terminating such a vital project for the art sector without proper justification and without assessing its consequences is not just poor policy—it is legally indefensible,” the galleries state.
Read the full press release hereAntwerp galleries send open letter to M HKA Board: "M HKA is a fundamental pillar of the art world"
26 February 2026 – Open letter
Dozens of leading Antwerp galleries have sent an open letter to the Board of the M HKA, expressing their deep concern about the future of the museum. Signatories include renowned galleries such as Zeno X Gallery, Tim Van Laere Gallery, Keteleer Gallery, and Axel Vervoordt Gallery, who emphasize that the M HKA is not an optional cultural player, but a fundamental pillar of the Antwerp and international art scene.
Read the full open letter hereResponse to the “Action Plan for the Flemish Museum Landscape and the Visual Arts”
2 February 2026 - 5:03 pm – Mission
On Friday 30 January, Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez presented the “Action Plan for the Flemish Museum Landscape and the Visual Arts” to the Flemish Government. In recent months, some small positive moves have been made, motivated by concerns from the arts field and various involved organisations (but without engaging in a dialogue with them). An opening has been created for maintaining the museum status of M HKA, and the new “Action Plan” refers to the creation of a general assembly for the visual arts and the museum sector, with representatives from the field. While we acknowledge these positive steps, we are left with a number of critical concerns regarding this new “Action Plan”, which is marked by a high degree of vagueness:
Read the full mission here