Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens

The museum Dhondt-Dhaenens is a private foundation recognized by the Flemish Government. As a museum, it makes publicly accessible important modern and contemporary private collections with a social relevance. As a contemporary art center, it aims to play an active role in the international art field. Since 2005, with the arrival of Joost Declercq as museum director, a two track approach has been adopted: the museum operations include both the research and presentation of modern art of the twentieth century and a function as contemporary art centre. The key concerns of the past have been retained: respect for the wishes of the founders and using the specificity of the buildings and the location of the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens as the basis of all activities.  

As for the contemporary art operations, the focus mainly lies on the elaboration of individual exhibition projects. Unlike group exhibitions, this form of exhibition can create a better picture of the intrinsic value of a particular artist. The Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens aims to be a close partner for the artist. The joint development of a project, the mutual questioning and support in the quest for the meaning and function of art are key issues. In other words, the museum ca not be a place for merely showing "the beautiful object", but creates in the first place a mental space for dialogue, reflection, experimentation and creation.