S.M.A.K. Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst

The Contemporary Art Museum Association was created on 8 November 1957 at the instigation of Karel Geirlandt. The idea was to develop an independent museum that would act as a showcase for contemporary trends in the world of art. It was perceived that the Museum of Fine Arts was out of touch with current artistic trends. The older art historical model needed to be invested with a less rigid structure so as to be more closely in tune with contemporary artistic activities.

When the Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst was set up in 1975 it was the first Belgian museum devoted to contemporary art. It was housed in the Museum of Fine Arts. Jan Hoet was appointed as director of the new Museum that very same year. He was instrumental in systematically extending the collection owned by the Museum and helping it to earn an enviable international reputation.

The Museum’s provisional circumstances meant that opportunities for seeing the collection were restricted to temporary exhibitions, with the works being showcased on a variable and piecemeal basis.

It took 20 years for Jan Hoet and his Museum to be granted independent premises in which to house the collection of contemporary art.