The Flemish government's plan to dissolve M HKA, a contemporary art institution in Antwerp, has been met with legal opposition after the museum initiated a legal review that claims the move would be illegal. The review, presented to the press on Tuesday with artists Luc Tuymans and Otobong Nkanga in attendance, argues that the government's proposal—which would close M HKA, transfer its collection to Ghent, and rebrand S.M.A.K. as the Flemish Museum of Contemporary and Current Art by 2028—contains "flagrant illegalities." The plan has drawn widespread condemnation from museum directors and artists, including Anish Kapoor, who demanded the removal of his work from M HKA's website.
This controversy matters because it threatens the existence of a beloved cultural institution in Antwerp and has sparked a broader debate about the Flemish government's approach to arts reform. The legal challenge highlights concerns over procedural legality and the potential irreparable loss to the cultural field, as noted by European museum directors. The outcome, expected later this week, could set a precedent for how government policies impact public art institutions and their collections, with artists and museum leaders rallying to protect M HKA's integrity and legacy.