M HKA in Resistance: Museum and Museum at Risk Demand Halt to ‘Unlawful’ Dismantling"
6 January 2026 - 11:12 pm – MissionThe Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA) is fighting for its survival. Following the sudden announcement by Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) to dismantle the M HKA as a museum and transfer its collection to S.M.A.K. in Ghent, the museum—backed by renowned artists, legal experts, and international museum directors—has, together with Museum at Risk, obtained legal advice branding the plans as "flagrantly unlawful". According to the analysis by honorary counsel Leo Neels (Allen & Overy), Gennez’s concept note violates fundamental principles of good governance, including the principle of legitimate expectations, artists’ moral rights, and the obligation to consult.
Antwerp – The Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), alongside Museum at Risk, today held a widely attended press conference to highlight the legal and moral objections to the plans of Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez (Vooruit). In attendance were not only interim director Dieter Vankeirsbilck and honorary counsel Leo Neels, but also representatives of Museum at Risk, including artists Luc Tuymans, Rinus Van de Velde, and gallerist Frank Demaegd. The message was clear: the conversion of the M HKA into an arts center and the forced transfer of its collection to S.M.A.K. in Ghent are "flagrantly unlawful" and pose a direct threat to Antwerp’s cultural autonomy and artistic heritage.
Legal Shortcomings and Lack of Consultation
According to the legal analysis by honorary counsel Leo Neels (Allen & Overy), Gennez’s concept note violates basic principles of good administration. Intended as a consultation document, it is being treated by the minister as final policy—without genuine sector input. "The minister jumps from the concept note to fait accompli conclusions, which contradicts the idea of good governance", Neels stated. Additionally, artists’ moral rights are being violated: 70% of the M HKA’s collection consists of donations and works legally tied to Antwerp or the museum itself. "Artworks cannot simply be relocated to another site", Neels emphasized.
Artists Threaten to Withdraw Works
Several internationally renowned artists have already threatened to withdraw their works if removed from the M HKA context. These include Anish Kapoor, the estate of Christian Boltanski (via Annette Messager), Kerry James Marshall, Marina Abramović, Emilia Kabakov (of the artist duo Ilya & Emilia Kabakov), and James Turrell. These artists stress that their works are specifically connected to the M HKA and cannot be arbitrarily relocated. "My very first solo exhibition was at the M HKA. Reducing the museum to an arts center without its own collection hits like a bombshell", said Otobong Nkanga in a video message.
International Outrage
Gennez’s plans have sparked global outrage. Over forty museum directors, including those from the Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, and the Rijksmuseum, wrote an open letter to the minister: "The closure of a museum like the M HKA would be an irreparable loss—not just for Antwerp, but for the entire cultural field." International media such as The Guardian and The Art Newspaper have called the decision "simply insane" and warned of a dangerous precedent for cultural policy in Europe.
Demands: Delay and Transparency
The M HKA and Museum at Risk demand that the Flemish government postpone the decision scheduled for January 9. "We are not asking for a policy blockade, but for reflection", said Vankeirsbilck. The sector calls for parliamentary hearings, transparent dialogue, and a revision of the concept note—before irreversible decisions are made.
Minister’s Response: “Open to Dialogue”
Minister Gennez acknowledges the "difficulties and concerns" but stands firm: "A two-year transition process will begin soon, in which all stakeholders can participate." Critics argue this comes too late: "Consultation must take place before the lines are drawn, not afterward."
What’s at Stake?
The future of the M HKA is not just an Antwerp or Flemish issue, but a European democratic question. Will Belgium allow an internationally respected museum to be dismantled without transparency or participation? And what does this mean for the autonomy of cultural institutions in an era of austerity and political interference?
The M HKA and Museum at Risk are therefore calling for massive support and public pressure to delay the decision.
"The closure of the M HKA is not just a cultural tragedy, but a democratic failure. If we do not act now, the independence of all cultural institutions will be at risk."
— Luc Tuymans, artist and ally of Museum at Risk
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