Doubts over financial sustainability of Brussels’s new Kanal museum cloud upcoming opening
The managing director Yves Goldstein will step down immediately after the opening in November due to “a difference of opinion” over the institution‘s future
The Kanal museum, a new modern and contemporary art museum in Brussels, is set to open on November 28th. Spanning 40,000 sq. m of art, architecture, and public space, the €230m project has faced controversy since planning began in 2013. The museum plans to borrow €2m annually from the Centre Pompidou for its first five years. Kanal's managing director, Yves Goldstein, announced his departure in May, but this date was brought forward to November 30th as part of an agreement with the Brussels minister-president Boris Dilliès.
Kanal's future funding is uncertain, with the Brussels regional government planning to provide €28m for operating costs in 2026, dropping to €10m by 2029. Private donors will be needed after 2028. Despite criticism, artistic director Kasia Redzisz remains enthusiastic about the museum's role as a community resource. The museum will allocate over 20,000 sq. m to public space, including a children's playground, meeting areas, water fountains, and a bakery.
While some critics question the museum's governance and funding, the Fédération des arts plastiques has called for an end to the museum's partnership with the Centre Pompidou.
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