Members sought for the Board of Trustees - Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp
12 November 2025 - 9:00 pm – AnnouncementThree of the four independent directors have resigned. The governing body is therefore launching an open call for candidates who wish to serve as independent directors on the governing body of M HKA vzw. The interim directors will be appointed for the remainder of the current term of office, which expires on 31 October 2026. Their term of office is renewable.
Job description
The Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp, or M HKA for short, is a leading museum for contemporary visual art and visual culture. It sees the post-war avant-garde as its basis for dealing with today's multipolar world and has strong international ties, including through L'Internationale, a European confederation of museums, art organisations and universities. M HKA is currently recognised as a cultural heritage institution by the Flemish Government under the Cultural Heritage Decree. In accordance with the ICOM museum definition, M HKA focuses on researching, collecting, preserving, interpreting and exhibiting tangible and intangible heritage.
M HKA faces particular challenges in the coming months. In a draft memorandum, the Minister of Culture indicated his intention to transfer most of M HKA's museum expertise and collection to S.M.A.K. and to reposition M HKA as an arts centre. The museum and its governing body must develop a clear vision with regard to Flemish policy and, in doing so, defend and develop the necessary right to participate and co-decide.
In accordance with the Decree on Good Governance in the Flemish public sector, the governing body consists of seven members appointed by the Flemish Government and four independent members nominated by the governing body on double lists to the General Meeting of the non-profit organisation, which then appoints them.
Three of the four independent members have resigned. The administrative body is therefore launching an open call for candidates who wish to serve as independent members on the administrative body of M HKA non-profit organisation. The interim members will be appointed for the remainder of the current term of office, which expires on 31 October 2026. Their term of office is renewable.
The board is responsible for the administration and management in the most general sense and monitors the implementation of the association's strategic policies. Among other things, the board is responsible for concluding the cooperation agreement with the Flemish Government, establishing the policy plan and drawing up the budget and annual accounts. The powers are exercised as a college and decisions are taken by majority vote.
Profile
Given the particular challenges facing the M HKA, and the emphasis placed on participation by both the supervisory authority and the visual arts sector, the following competencies are required of independent members:
- a distinct talent for working constructively with the museum's various stakeholders and for creating support for contemporary art within the local, regional and international fields;
- a healthy interest in everything related to contemporary visual arts, visual culture and the other arts;
- artistic and cultural expertise in the field of visual arts with an international outlook and a perspective that reflects the diversity of today's world;
- expertise in one or more of the following areas: policy-making processes, legal matters relating to public institutions, governance of non-profit organisations, HR policy and/or change management;
- the competence to set long-term goals in the interest of the visual arts and their social anchoring;
- the capacity to question the organisation and the governing body in an appropriate manner, focusing on the effectiveness of an institutional development process;
The governing body meets at least four times a year or whenever the situation requires. A number of preparatory committees have been set up within the governing body.
The members must endorse the code of ethics and internal regulations that have been approved.
The mandate of member is incompatible with:
- a mandate in the European Parliament, the Chamber of Representatives, the Senate, the Flemish Parliament and the Brussels Capital Parliament;
- the office of minister or state secretary and the capacity of cabinet member of the minister under whose supervision the association falls;
- the office of staff member of the association or of the Department of Culture, Youth and Media of the Flemish Government.
The members do not receive an attendance allowance, but they may receive a travel allowance.
The members are covered by members' liability insurance.
Applying
Do you recognise yourself in this profile and would you like to help steer a dynamic, internationally oriented and locally anchored visual culture and arts institution with a heritage focus?
Then we hope you will apply for a position as an independent member of the board at the M HKA.
Please submit your application, including a cover letter and an up-to-date curriculum vitae, by Friday 5 December 2025 at 12 noon at the latest via personeel@muhka.be, for the attention of Ms Yolande Avontroodt.
The governing body will assess the applications and propose two candidates per open position to the General Meeting on 15 December 2025. The General Meeting will then appoint three independent members from among these candidates.
The M HKA is actively committed to promoting equal opportunities and diversity. Candidates will therefore be selected on the basis of their qualities and skills, regardless of age, gender, origin or disability.
For further information, please contact Dieter Vankeirsbilck at dieter.vankeirsbilck@muhka.be.
Respond by: 05/12/2025
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