M HKA Remains Museum, SMAK Plan Scrapped

The government of Belgium's Flanders region has reversed its controversial plan to close the M HKA contemporary art museum in Antwerp and transfer its collection to the SMAK museum in Ghent. Under a new plan called "M HKA 2.0," the museum will retain its collection, its museum status, and continue its programming, while SMAK will be operated by the regional government.

The reversal follows months of intense protest from prominent artists like Luc Tuymans and Otobong Nkanga, and legal challenges from the museum itself. The decision preserves a key institution in Europe's contemporary art landscape and its collection documenting Antwerp's role in 20th-century avant-garde history. The museum's 2026 program, announced in the wake of the victory, includes major surveys and free public access to its collection, framing it as a vital space for reflection in a turbulent political climate.