"Open-Air Museum of Sculpture Middelheim" -                                         
  from Rodin to the present day

Intention:
Beginning with sculptures of Auguste Rodin, Aristide Maillot, Raymond Duchamp-Villon and the like, the Open-Air Museum of Sculpture Middelheim gives a unique overview of more than hundred years of "modern sculpture" in a close-to-nature surrounding.
The period covered is naturally a great advantage, since it compromises both modern and contemporary art, which means that, unlike museums of contemporary art, it can show not only the fault lines but also the continuity between the artistic movements of the twentieth century. In fact, confrontational displays of modern and contemporary art show just how well the two get on together, as exemplified by exhibitions of work by Wim Delvoye (1997), Jessica Stockholder (1998), Timm Ulrichs (2001) and others. And it is not only the collection that has reacted positively to newcomers; the old park, too, has readily adapted over the decades.

In addition: Open-Air Museum of Sculpture Middelheim is a place for everyone. Not only art experts but all visitors, families, disabled, blind people have the possibility to make "their" access to sculptural art in their individualistic way, according to their wishes. A large spectrum of public activities, guided tours, workshops for children and programs for elderly people create a new and easy interaction with art and nature.

Origin - development:
Since its foundation Open-Air Museum of Sculpture Middelheim has come a long way and the museum scene in Flanders has also seen some major changes.
From 1950 to 1989 a total of 20 biennales were held at Middelheim-Laag. The museum usually purchased several pieces for the permanent collection. After several decades, Middelheim-Hoog contained about 300 works of art - Belgian artists are naturally well presented. For various reasons a new policy seemed to be needed and new directions in terms of content, structure and finance were introduced. In addition, the including of the wooded areas to the grassland led to a rearrangement of the permanent collection.

Since Antwerp became the "Cultural Capital of Europe" in 1993, the museum's acquisition policy decided that the contemporary art works of the nineties should be erected in the park area formerly used for the biennales. Individual exhibitions presented expansively the work of international artists like Guillaume Bijl, Tony Cragg, Franz West and Joep van Lieshout, to name but a few.
A second type of exhibition presented more classical artists like Henry Moore, Antony Caro and Per Kirkeby.
Thirdly, more experimental exhibitions are held which do not lead directly to a purchase and where the artist is therefore free to develop installations without considering durability and future conservation.

As it entered the new millennium, Middle museum was given several opportunities to develop and professionalise its activities.
The park gained an extra seven hectares, a storage depot, more staff and more generous financing. Two buildings were constructed, additional art historians could be employed.
A number of landmarks will be added to give the park more structure and to make it attractive even when no temporary exhibitions are beeing held.

The documentation center attracts not only specialists and insiders, but also the 'ordinary' museum visitor. In 1976, on the death of the Museum's initiator, it was named the "Documentation Centre Mayor Lode Craeybeckx".
The centre collects and provides information on modern and contemporary art - from Rodin to the present. It is not limited to artists and sculptures, but also includes general works on modern art, monographs, catalogues of individual artists' and group exhibitions, collection and auction catalogues, magazines on modern art, yearbooks, posters, photos, slides, films and videos.