Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – 30 Antwerp galleries urged the Flemish government to review plans for M HKA, warning that dismantling the museum and its collection without a clear vision would be a major policy mistake.
As VRT News reported, 30 art galleries in Antwerp have issued an open letter expressing concern about the future of the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA). In an open letter, they expressed concern after the Flemish government cancelled the museum’s planned new building and announced a review of its status.
“We call on all stakeholders to work together to safeguard what is at stake: the right to a free artistic practice.”
From the open letter from the galleries
What will happen to Antwerp’s M HKA after the Flemish Government review?
The letter was signed by:
- Tim Van Laere Gallery
- Keteleer Gallery
- Zeno X Gallery
- Axel Vervoordt Gallery
- Annie Gentils Gallery
- Gallery Sofie Van de Velde
- De Zwarte Pater
- Plus-One Projects
- Base Alpha Gallery
- Fifty One Gallery
- IBASHO
- Rik Rosseels Gallery
- FRED&FERRY
- Newchild
- Pizza Gallery
- Jacobs’ Booth
- GNP Gallery
- DEUSS Gallery
- DMW Gallery
- Galerie Annette De Keyser
- Pedrami Gallery
- Schönfeld Projects
- Eva Steynen Gallery
- PONTI
- Callewaert Vanlangendonck Gallery
- Coppejans Gallery
- de boer
- Shoobil Gallery
- Stieglitz 19
In the letter, the galleries warned that the government’s plan to change M HKA’s museum status threatens Antwerp’s entire cultural structure. They said the disappearance of the museum would cause an
“irreparable rupture in the cultural ecosystem that has put us on the map worldwide.”
The signatories urged policymakers, cultural institutions and citizens to work together to protect “the right to a free artistic practice.” They called for M HKA to remain a permanent and independent museum for contemporary art, keeping its collection and leadership in Antwerp.
The galleries warned that turning it into a smaller arts centre would weaken the region’s cultural base and harm its international standing. Their statement follows earlier criticism from artists such as Luc Tuymans, cultural workers, architects and the global network Museum Watch. The decision also drew strong reactions from members of the previous Antwerp city council.
Officials mentioned that for nearly 40 years, the museum has played a central role in the city’s art scene, supporting both local and international artists and promoting experimental work. It has also built strong links between galleries, collectors, and visitors.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA) was founded in 1985 by the Flemish Community after the success of the International Cultural Centre, which had promoted modern art in Belgium since 1970.
The museum opened its doors to the public on June 20, 1987, in a former grain silo on Leuvenstraat in Antwerp. It quickly became one of Belgium’s leading institutions for contemporary art, building a collection of more than 5,000 works by both Belgian and international artists.
In 2018, plans were announced for a new €130 million building designed by OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen and David Chipperfield Architects, with an expected opening by 2030. On October 3, 2025, the Flemish government cancelled the project and said it would review the museum’s official status.
