Why Minister Gennez should employ an artist
14 January 2026 - 6:00 am – Opinion
Danny Devos calls on Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez to actively involve artists in the future vision for Flemish museums.
Read the full opinion hereTeam Zuid Issues Formal Notice to Minister Gennez: ‘Restart M HKA Construction or Face Legal Action’
14 January 2026 – Open letter
Team Zuid, the neighborhood committee representing residents, entrepreneurs, and gallery owners in Antwerp’s Zuid district, sent a registered letter of default to Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez on January 14, 2026. In the letter, the committee demands the immediate resumption of the construction project for the new M HKA at Zuidersluis, which was abruptly canceled after 10 years of preparation—without consultation with the neighborhood or stakeholders.
Read the full open letter hereM HKA in Resistance: Museum and Museum at Risk Demand Halt to ‘Unlawful’ Dismantling"
6 January 2026 - 11:12 pm – Mission
The 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.
Read the full mission hereWie wint de Franken Teut-prijs 2025?
22 December 2025 - 10:25 am – Statement of Support
A just society cannot be built alone. It grows thanks to people who care, organise and continue to believe in solidarity. That is why PVDA Antwerp is once again presenting the Franken Teut Award this year. With this award, we shine a spotlight on organisations and initiatives that make a difference every day, often without receiving the recognition they deserve. People who organise, care, fight and build a city and a world that is more just, warmer and more humane.
Read the full statement of support hereAFI warns: Dissolution of M HKA threatens democratic cultural policy in Belgium
8 December 2025 - 10:00 am – Open letter
In an open letter to Culture Minister Caroline Gennez, Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) expresses serious concern over the sudden decision to dissolve the M HKA as a museum and transfer its collection to SMAK in Ghent. AFI argues that this move sets a dangerous precedent for the autonomy of cultural institutions and the protection of artistic freedom in Europe, drawing parallels with Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, where cultural institutions faced political interference.
AFI urges the Flemish government to immediately halt the planned restructuring—scheduled for presentation on December 15—and engage in open dialogue with the museum and the sector. The core question: How can a democratic country like Belgium allow an internationally respected institution like M HKA to be dismantled without transparency or participation? The future of M HKA is not just a cultural issue, but a democratic litmus test for the protection of cultural heritage and institutional independence.
Read the full open letter here