"This is a critical moment for us to reflect on our true representation"
Interview with Bart De Baere, Director of M HKA, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp, Belgium, and a long-standing board member of CIMAM. In this talk, Bart reflects on his journey with CIMAM and its broader significance in the global museum landscape.
What initially motivated you to join the CIMAM Board, and what did you hope to achieve?
I come from a tradition of museum directors in Europe who have been actively involved with CIMAM, including notable figures like Manuel Borja-Villel. I was particularly impressed by the work of the Museum Watch Committee at one point. When I joined the board, one of my motivations was to help reactivate and revitalize that work, as I believe it is essential.
Contemporary art museums serve as important symbols in our societies. Because of this symbolic role, they can easily become targets for various challenges. Therefore, I believe it is essential for us as a community to reflect on these issues and provide support to our colleagues when needed.
How has your experience as a CIMAM Board member influenced your perspective on modern and contemporary art museums?
Serving on the board has been a fulfilling experience. As human beings, we are shaped by the relationships we build, and some of my colleagues on the board have become real friends as a result of our shared intense responsibilities. It may sound simple, but having companionship in this role is incredibly meaningful to me.
What have been some of the most meaningful discussions or initiatives you've been involved in during your tenure?
I have been deeply involved in Museum Watch during my time on the board, and those conversations have had a significant impact on me. It has been striking to observe the emergence of new forms of precariousness affecting contemporary art museums in various locations, as well as the recurring patterns that manifest in different contexts.
One of the clearest examples of this was the realization that many institutional crises stem from governance issues. This insight prompted us to reach out to two of ICOM’s standing committees, particularly INTERCOM, to collaborate on international research addressing governance challenges.
Our work has contributed to making governance a major point in ICOM’s ethical code. Museum directors often serve as the public face of an institution and find themselves in difficult positions, facing pressure from staff and society. However, they are just one part of a much more complex relational structure.
It is crucial that we acknowledge and address this complexity, not as something negative, but as a reality that reflects the museum’s role in society.
How important is it for museum professionals to engage in global discussions about ethics, sustainability, and best practices?
If you're not interested in this, then perhaps this field isn't the right fit for you. I personally chose to work in contemporary art as a conscious alternative to a career in politics or economics.
It may sound naïve, but I still believe that contemporary art revolves around ethics and awareness. It poses questions without providing definitive answers.
Internationality and openness are essential to this field. Contemporary art embraces the unfamiliar and complements rather than merely reflects traditional cultural heritage. This sense of openness feels inherent to our work.
Why is now a particularly important time for professionals to step up and be part of the CIMAM Board?
It is always a good time to serve on the CIMAM board, but the upcoming board cycle promises to be especially engaging.
On one hand, contemporary art museums have become the most popular type of museum globally. They embody values of internationality, openness, and diversity—principles that resonate with many people around the world. On the other hand, we are seeing investments in contemporary art museums from autocratic regimes and billionaires. While not all motives are questionable, it is clear that these entities recognize a need for some level of openness in their societies.
At the same time, we are witnessing strong reactionary forces that advocate for homogeneity, which opposes the values we stand for.
This is a critical moment for us to reflect on our true representation. We must approach our goals with clarity and strategy—carefully choosing our battles while considering how we want our societies to evolve and the role we can play in that transformation.
What excites you most about the future of CIMAM?
CIMAM has experienced significant growth in recent years, and I believe this trend will continue. However, our focus should not only be on numbers; it is crucial that we deepen our sense of community while maintaining clear standards and criteria.
We must take our approach seriously, yet remain open to diversity. Remarkable developments are occurring in contemporary art across various regions, and today’s institutions are far more diverse than those of the past. This is something worth celebrating.
The challenge lies in cultivating openness without succumbing to relativism—this means staying grounded in our values while embracing a broader range of voices and practices. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity.