Association "Monumentale Kerken Antwerpen vzw" (MKA), Antwerp
(MKA) - Monumental Churches of Antwerp is an umbrella organisation for the five historic churches in Antwerp's old centre: the gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, the gothic churches St Paul's, St James' and St Andrew's and the baroque St Charles Borromeo's church. In these listed ...
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Project details
| Title: | Association "Monumentale Kerken Antwerpen vzw" (MKA), Antwerp |
|---|---|
| Entr. year: | 2011 |
| Result: | Award |
| Country: | Belgium |
| Town: | Antwerpen |
| Category type: | organisation |
| Architect / Proj.leader: | Education, Training and Awareness-Raising |
| The Jury's citation: | "Monumentale Kerken Antwerpen (MKA) was created when five parishes in central Antwerp delegated a representative, and the municipal administration added a professional art historian, to form an association of common interest. The five monumental churches with their 12,000 listed works of art and objects of worship, represented an enormous potential for public interest which the association channelled into a proper presentation plan and harmonised conservation. They agreed in providing a common level of visitor services, a joint publications policy, and in uniting management and maintenance facilities. The jury was impressed by the very high level of work carried out, thus providing excellent services to the 600,000 visitors annually, and setting new standards of insights into, and communication of this religious, but nevertheless common cultural heritage." |
| GPS: | 51°13'10,7"N; 4°24'5,0"E |
| Web, Links: | www.mkaweb.be/ |
Description:
(MKA) - Monumental Churches of Antwerp is an umbrella organisation for the five historic churches in Antwerp's old centre: the gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, the gothic churches St Paul's, St James' and St Andrew's and the baroque St Charles Borromeo's church. In these listed monuments master pieces by Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck, among many others, are kept and displayed, together with a unique collection of sculptures, drawings and textiles that feature prominently on the Flemish Community's official Masterworks List. Since its inception in 2005 MKA has been advocating and coordinating an innovative cultural heritage policy, revealing the churches' unique splendour to more than 600,000 visitors a year. The creation of MKA laid the foundations for the professional management of these buildings and their collections. This has gone hand in hand with a professional and consumer-minded reception of the visitors, mainly thanks to the engagement of tens of volunteers, both at front of house and behind the scenes. This approach and results have made MKA one of the world's recognised innovators with regard to in situ conservation and the management of religious heritage.
