Kunstenbibliotheek and Muziekbibliotheek officially recognised as heritage library

Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez has recognised the Kunstenbibliotheek and Muziekbibliotheek of KASK & Conservatorium Ghent as a heritage library recognised by the Flemish government. The quality label confirms the value and importance of these exceptional collections and recognises the professionalism with which they are preserved and made accessible. The award of the quality label is the result of a thorough screening procedure in which all aspects of the library were assessed. This afternoon, the new official recognition plaques were also presented by the minister. With this recognition, the Ghent libraries are now among the ten officially recognised heritage libraries in Flanders and Brussels.

Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez: "Heritage Library Kunstenbibliotheek & Muziekbibliotheek carefully manages the valuable library collection and is strongly committed to research. They make the collection accesible in various ways. The collaboration with various partners and the artist residency are fine examples of this. This recognition confirms the quality and relevance of their work."

Filip Rathé, Dean of KASK & Conservatorium: "We are proud and grateful to receive recognition as a heritage library. It officially confirms what we have been doing in practice for years: preserving, disclosing and making our rich collections visible. As an institution in higher art education, we want to cherish these treasures, as well as bring them to life by making them available to artists, students and researchers today. Whether it's scores that are played again in the concert hall, drawings that inspire new visual art projects or artists' books that guide young creators, this recognition strengthens our mission to let this heritage speak, now and in the future."

The Heritage Library Kunstenbibliotheek & Muziekbibliotheek preserves heritage collections from various domains and periods. It is located on two campuses, each with its own character and rich history, both embedded in the KASK & Conservatorium school of arts in Ghent.

The Kunstenbibliotheek grew out of the historical library of KASK and brings together the collections of partner institutions such as S.M.A.K., Design Museum Gent, STAM, HISK and the Ghent Guides. With more than 150,000 titles focusing on contemporary art, art theory, design, landscape architecture and urbanism, it is a unique source of research and inspiration. Its special collections include the collection of artists' books, the Karel Geirlandt collection and the Arts Archive with thousands of drawings, objects and paintings from the history of the Academy of Ghent.

Muziekbibliotheek, founded in 1835, has more than 200,000 titles. It includes an exceptional collection of scores, manuscripts and old prints, supplemented by contemporary repertoire, specialist literature and magazines. Among the highlights are the autographs of Ghent composers such as Mengal and Miry, alongside the extensive Flemish Music Archive with more than 40,000 recordings in a variety of genres.

The Heritage Library wants to carefully preserve its exceptional collections and bring them to life in the present. Linked to higher art education, we are committed to increasing the knowledge and visibility of our collections, with a special focus on contemporary visual arts and Belgian and Ghent musical heritage. We make this heritage widely accessible – to students and researchers, but also to artists, enthusiasts and the general public – so that it remains a living source of knowledge and inspiration that enables creative connections time and again.

Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez today recognises five other collection management organisations: Archief Lier, KU Leuven University Archives, Liberation Garden, HEY Museum and Kazerne Dossin. A total of 103 cultural heritage organisations in Flanders and Brussels carry the quality label “museum, heritage library or cultural archive institution recognised by the Flemish government”. These include 22 cultural archive institutions, 10 heritage libraries and 71 museums, which can be found in the register.