Research into the collaboration between private collectors/private collection management institutions and (semi)public cultural heritage institutions in Flanders.

Flanders has a large number of private collectors with impressive art collections with pieces that are part of our collective heritage. Worldwide, Flanders has the highest concentration of private collectors. In the past, these collectors often took on a role as lenders or donors in relation to the (semi-)public cultural heritage institutions. They have proven to be a valuable partner for museums through various collaborations. Some fine historical examples of this can be found in the recently published book Giving as culture: Donations to the KMSKA by Leen de Jong or the publications of Ulrike Müller, researcher at the Mayer van Den Bergh museum ("The phenomenon of collecting in the nineteenth century to the present day, and on the (changing) position of the private collector in the public sphere"). In recent decades, however, there has been a remarkable evolution in the landscape of collaborations between private collectors and public institutions. For example, private collectors who have an impressive collection of museum size and of great (art-historical) importance are increasingly setting up their own structure, including exhibition spaces. They present their collection there under their own name. It is in this context that the CJM department wishes to gain more insight into the current collaborations between private collectors/private collection management institutions and (semi-)public cultural heritage organizations in Flanders. In Minister Jambon's Policy Document on Culture (2019-2024), he also refers to the impact of the Top Pieces Decree on the changing relationship between private collectors and public museums: "In 2020, in implementation of the Coalition Agreement and in consultation with the Top Pieces Council, I want to examine how we can develop collaborations with important private collections in Flanders (RA, p. 126). Interested collectors should be given the opportunity via a cooperation protocol to keep their collections in Flanders for a longer period of time and to share them with the public without this encumbering their property rights. In addition, consultation and collaboration with private collectors can also be included in the Strategic Vision Document on Cultural Heritage to encourage the sector to focus on this." To do this, there is a need for an up-to-date state of affairs that brings together and clearly presents the different views, experiences with and practices surrounding such collaborations. The aim of this research is therefore to map the current state of affairs and to identify the needs of both private collectors and (semi-)public institutions in the cultural heritage sector. This is based on the following problem statement: Which collaborations already exist and which are possible collaboration models between private collectors/private collection-managing institutions and (semi-)public cultural heritage organisations? What needs are experienced by both parties within the current framework? In doing so, insight must be gained into existing and possible collaborations on three levels: substantive, legal and ethical

Keywords:MUSEUM MANAGEMENT, CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

Disciplines:Cultural management