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MAC's Museum Opens at Grand-Hornu Site in Belgium

institutional · 2026-04-23

The Musée des Arts Contemporains (MAC's) opened in 2002 at the Grand-Hornu site in Wallonia, Belgium. The site, a neoclassical former coal mine, was selected in 1991 to house the new museum for the French Community of Belgium. Architect Bernard Marcelis integrated the new museum architecture with the historic industrial buildings. Curator Laurent Busine, the project's driving force, envisioned the museum's collection as part of a network of smaller institutions attracting an interregional audience from France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands, rather than competing with larger European museums.

Key facts

  • MAC's opened in 2002 at Grand-Hornu in Wallonia, Belgium.
  • Grand-Hornu is a neoclassical former coal mine and architectural heritage site.
  • The site was chosen in 1991 for the museum.
  • Architect Bernard Marcelis designed the museum integration.
  • Laurent Busine was the curator and driving force behind the project.
  • The museum serves the French Community of Belgium.
  • The collection aims to attract an interregional audience.
  • Target audience includes visitors from France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Entities

Artists

  • Bernard Marcelis
  • Laurent Busine

Institutions

  • Musée des Arts Contemporains (MAC's)
  • Communauté française de Belgique

Locations

  • Grand-Hornu
  • Wallonia
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Luxembourg
  • Germany
  • Netherlands

Sources