Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium seek alternative funding amid federal cuts
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (KMSKB) are exploring new funding sources in response to federal budget cuts affecting scientific and cultural institutions. Director Kim Oosterlinck is calling for greater autonomy for federal museums, arguing this would allow them to generate income more easily, while also developing complementary financing models.
Under current austerity measures, federal scientific institutions must cut nine per cent of their budgets over the current legislative term, or around 1.8 per cent per year. The cuts affect the Royal Museums, which include the Old Masters, Wiertz, Meunier and Magritte museums, as well as the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR).
To offset the impact, the museums are increasingly turning to patrons, sponsors and private investors. A recent partnership with luxury brand Delvaux financed the restoration of several artworks, with further collaborations planned. Other initiatives include skills-based patronage, such as legal support, and a promotional film produced earlier this year by the private club TheMerode.
The museums are also strengthening ties with long-term supporters through their “Maecenas Circle” and experimenting with crowdfunding. Together with KBR, they recently raised funds to restore the Rousseau Album by James Ensor. Oosterlinck reiterated the need for greater institutional flexibility to ensure the museums’ financial sustainability in the years ahead.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO MORGANE BERGER
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