vzw Team Zuid calls on the Antwerp City Council to defend the preservation of the M HKA as a full-fledged Museum of Contemporary Art.

20 October 2025 – Open letter

In a letter to the Antwerp City Council, vzw Team Zuid warns of the far-reaching consequences of Minister Gennez’s plan to downgrade the M HKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp) to an art center and potentially relocate its collection to Ghent.

The letter reiterates earlier arguments from a letter to Minister Gennez (23 July 2024) and adds a recent open letter signed by directors of leading international museums. They emphasize the importance of the M HKA as a partner in the European cultural network and call for a reconsideration of the plan.

In the letter, they highlight the following points:

An unprecedented decision: Never before has a museum of international standing been downgraded to an art center. Reactions from London, Paris, Amsterdam, and other cities demonstrate the high regard in which the M HKA is held.
The collection at risk: While the minister claims the collection will remain in Antwerp, the legal and practical reality is far more complex. Many works were donated under the condition that the M HKA remain a museum. If this is no longer the case, artists and collectors may reclaim their donations.
An uncertain future: The plan to transform the M HKA into a "self-sustaining" art center is financially and technically unfeasible. The current building is not fire-safe, there are no funds for maintenance, and the transition to energy neutrality must be achieved without support.
No guarantees: Alderman for Culture Lien Van de Kelder cannot provide any guarantees, as Minister Gennez’s plan was not coordinated with the sector. Staff members do not know if they will still have jobs after December 15.
Budgetary uncertainties: The claim that the new museum building is "over budget" is refuted. The actual construction costs (€60.7 million excl. VAT) have been artificially inflated by 40% for unforeseen expenses—an unprecedented practice.
Call to action: vzw Team Zuid urges the city council to stand up for Antwerp and the M HKA. The city deserves a full-fledged museum, not a forced downgrade to an art center. Preserving the M HKA is essential for the cultural prestige of Antwerp and Flanders.

Finally, they conclude with a direct appeal to Minister Gennez to reconsider the plan, consult the sector, and preserve the M HKA as an independent museum—as envisioned in the original building plan that the minister herself presented recently.

Read the full letter from vzw Team Zuid here. (in Dutch)