The Flemish Government has decided to thoroughly reform the landscape of its own museums and the visual arts in Flanders. The museums of the Flemish Community will each be given a clear remit within three clusters.
In addition to the current museums of the Flemish Community (KMSKA, M HKA, Mu.ZEE, Gaasbeek Castle and Roger Raveel Museum), S.M.A.K., Museum Hof van Busleyden and FeliX Art+Eco Museum will strengthen the group of Flemish museums. The addition of these institutions should ensure a better distribution of the Flemish Community's visual arts collection.
Three major museums, or “beacons”, will become the reference points. Each beacon will receive financial support to realise its ambitions:
- The Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA) will operate from Antwerp as a beacon for the fine arts, supplemented by the Museum Hof van Busleyden and Gaasbeek Castle as additional locations.
- From Ghent, S.M.A.K. will become the new Flemish museum for contemporary arts, with most of the Flemish Community's collection from the current M HKA being transferred there.
- As the third beacon, Mu.ZEE will complete the circle as a safe haven for Belgian master and modern art in Ostend, together with the Peiremuzee, Permeke Museum, Roger Raveel Museum and FeliX Art + Eco.
The three beacons will be tasked with jointly developing an integrated collection vision for the Flemish Community Collection.
S.M.A.K. looks forward to initiating discussions that will help shape this transition, with respect for the team, the collection and the building, and is fully committed to meeting this challenge.
