The Flemish government decided on Friday to cancel the new construction project of the Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA) in Antwerp.
The planned new high-rise building for contemporary art in Antwerp, with a budget of 130 million euros, will be cancelled. "A hard message," says Antwerp alderwoman Lien Van de Kelder (Flemish Socialist Party, Vooruit).
In February, the design plans for the new M HKA were presented in detail, the new museum would be twice as large and a lot higher than the current one. The former court of appeal would give way to a brand new building of 130 million euros. Those plans now end up in the trash.
"In this difficult budgetary context, we must ensure that every penny the government invests also ends up well," Minister for Culture Caroline Gennez (Flemish Socialist Party, Vooruit) responds. "Given the policy and operation of the M HKA are insufficiently strong, and given the growing uncertainty about construction costs, we have made the decision to cancel the project now."