Collective of Antwerp Galleries Issues Formal Notice of Default to Minister of Culture Gennez
3 April 2026 – Press releaseA 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.
By recognizing only a limited number of museums and excluding the M HKA—which is to be transformed into an art hall—and abruptly halting the construction of the new museum building without any consultation with the sector or transparent justification, the minister has, according to the galleries, violated the legitimate expectations of all involved parties: galleries, artists, museums, stakeholders, and the broader art community.
What’s more: the planned changes are entirely unlawful. A minister cannot unilaterally alter the permanent museum and heritage status of an institution or reallocate its operational funds to another museum (such as S.M.A.K.).
The sudden decision to deprive Antwerp of its museum of contemporary art will undoubtedly weaken the entire Antwerp cultural ecosystem—the very reason entrepreneurs and investors chose to establish themselves in Antwerp, particularly in the Zuid district.
Removing the M HKA’s museum mission represents a rupture with a city and Flemish ecosystem meticulously built over decades. As an internationally renowned art city—home to academies, avant-garde traditions, artists, collectors, and a vibrant contemporary scene—Antwerp needs a museum of contemporary art. Its disappearance would:
- Disrupt a historically grown network of artists, galleries, collectors, heritage communities, and international partnerships;
- Undermine the trust of the local and international art community;
- Create significant uncertainty regarding collections, visibility, and commitments;
- Violate the ICOM Ethical Code, which stipulates that decisions about collections and museum functions must be made in dialogue with the community, both locally and internationally.
According to the galleries, this intervention in the M HKA’s institutional operations—and the halt to the new museum’s construction—is not only detrimental to Flanders’ art landscape but also legally untenable.
The galleries, represented by their legal counsel, Mr. Verbist, argue that the decision violates fundamental principles of good governance. Key issues include:
- The lack of a substantiated justification for abruptly halting a project prepared for over a decade, with significant public funds and commitments already allocated;
- A breach of the principle of due care, as essential elements—such as the financial, legal, cultural, and societal consequences of the construction stop—were not properly or transparently assessed.
They refer to multiple negative reports from the Inspection of Finances, which conclude that the cancellation of the construction project is completely unfounded and does not even result in savings. On the contrary, the budget for the new M HKA is being arbitrarily redistributed among the majority parties. Additionally, the Inspection of Finances finds that the budgetary impact of the museum reform has been incompletely and overly optimistically assessed—meaning the government is being misled into making a decision without a proper understanding of the consequences.
Unless the minister responds within 7 days, the galleries will instruct Mr. Verbist to initiate legal proceedings. Their goal is to have a court review the legality of the construction halt and compel the minister to reconsider her decisions, aiming for a full reset of the disastrous announcements of October 3 and the immediate realization of the planned, fully fledged new M HKA in a new building.
The galleries’ notice of default is fully supported by core stakeholders Team Zuid and Museum at Risk, who will join in legal action if necessary.
Read the full notice of default here (Dutch).
269