A peek through massive glass walls has started to unveil a significant artwork for modern and contemporary art in the Belgian capital.
It continues an initiative that began in 2018 with therestoration of a heritage structureand is scheduled to conclude in November 2026 to enable public participation.
"The utopia we possess is that in a city as divided as Brussels - socially, economically, religiously, and philosophically - art and culture have the power to unite people. The entire project originates from a consideration on how to address the significant challenge of coexistence in Brussels," said Yves Goldstein, director of the KANAL Foundation, who provided Euronews with a tour of the 40,000 square metre area.
The Brussels-Capital Region government has assigned this foundation the responsibility of establishing a public museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. When the federal government declined to provide its collection from that era, the approach was to seek an international collaboration, leading to a five-year agreement with France's Pompidou Centre.
"Since 2018, the KANAL Foundation has been developing a public collection of modern art for a museum that only came into existence recently. We believed it would be beneficial to have an international collaborator, and following several communications and talks, we chose the Centre Pompidou as our partner," Goldstein remembered.
In addition to displaying pieces from the Parisian institution alongside its own collection, the KANAL-Centre Pompidou seeks to serve as an arts and cultural center, hosting musical, dance, and theatrical performances.
The structure will also serve as the latest residence forCIVAA museum, library, archive, and publishing house dedicated to Belgian architecture spanning from the mid-19th century to the 21st century, situated in the Etterbeek area.
Expanding beyond the museum's limits
Half of the area will be reserved for individuals to utilize facilities including a restaurant and sky-level bar, a print shop, a library, and even a kids' play area.
Outside the building's boundaries, the center will concentrate on what is known as the 'external project,' aimed at fostering social unity within neighboring areas that have significant socio-cultural variety and regions affected by poverty.
"It's not simply about establishing a space, opening the doors, and inviting people in. It's also an ongoing process that the teams have been implementing for more than eight years, working within schools, local community groups, engaging with young people, and collaborating with the surrounding communities—Molenbeek, Laken, the North Quarter—to develop artistic or other initiatives," the director explained.
An instance of this method was a set of murals painted by students from Toots Tillemans secondary school in Molenbeek, collaborating with an artist selected by the Kanal Foundation.
Limited financial resources
Construction was set to start in 2018, with the regional government providing €150 million, excluding VAT, inflation, furnishings, and equipment required for the museum's functioning. After seven years, the projected cost of the project is approximately €235 million. The management team will receive €35 million annually to operate the institution, supported by a workforce of about 100 employees.
Goldstein states that the KANAL Foundation is mindful of the financial challenges in the region, and has been exploring ways to reduce expenses in its operational budget.
"Thus, we are examining a range of scenarios and compromises, should the subsidy be cut, while striving to maintain as much as possible the core essence of this project: culture for all, culture serving a social initiative," he adds.
The cultural initiative will be introduced to the media in the first quarter of 2026. From that point until the launch, KANAL-Centre Pompidou will serve as an institutional collaborator for the project that artist Miet Warlop will develop to showcase Belgium at the 61stVenice Biennale in May.