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Portrait of an M-bassador family

Portrait of an M-bassador family

Zaalzicht 'Neem je Tijd', 2022, M Leuven
Exhibition view 'Take your Time', 2022, M Leuven, photo: © Eline Willaert for M Leuven

Ria Ververs and Emiel Demessemaekers have shared a wide interest in art and culture all their lives. So they did not have to think long about becoming M-bassadors. This time they are visiting M together with their three grandchildren: Nora (14), Raf (12) and Roos (10).

Zaalzicht 'Neem je Tijd', 2022, M Leuven
Exhibition view 'Take your Time', 2022, M Leuven, photo: © Eline Willaert for M Leuven

Ria: "We have always loved going to museums with the grandchildren, from when they were very young: M, Bozar, Boverie in Liege... If you are an M-bassador yourself, your children, grandchildren or stepchildren under eighteen can be one too and at no extra charge."

 

Emiel: "We have been M-bassadors for about six years now. We also have a museumPASSmusées because we enjoy visiting other museums, probably about once a month certainly. When you get the two memberships together, it does not cost much."

 

Ria: "As an M-bassador, you have unlimited access to the museum, that's a great advantage. These days we live in Haacht, but we’ve lived in Leuven for a while, and we still come here regularly. We always then try to pop into the museum with our M-bassador card."

 

Emiel: "We used to visit the Vander Kelen-Mertens Municipal Museum from time-to-time, but frankly there was less to do there. They had nice pieces there, but it was not an nice place to take people. M really is. We sometimes meet up here with friends or former colleagues. Sometimes we then book a guided tour, and sometimes I do the guiding (laughs). People from outside Leuven often don't know M very well, and they are always pleasantly surprised. 'It is a beautiful building, you can see beautiful art there, there is the recently opened museum shop and café which is really cosy and there are many places around here where you can have something to eat afterwards... The museum gives Leuven more charisma. You see, we have become true ambassadors of M!"

 

Ria: "We also really enjoy coming to the restored St Peter's Church, which has turned out beautifully. We have already tried the HoloLens with Nora, the eldest of the three grandchildren, the special glasses that project a digital layer on top of the artwork you are viewing. Wonderful!"

Truly unique

Ria: "As an M-bassador, you are invited to vernissages of new exhibitions. We always try to go to that. You then get explanations from the curator and often the artist, and of course you can see the exhibition for yourself. If you then come back afterwards, you will really benefit from that. Because you are M-bassador, you can go back whenever you want."

 

Emiel: "In recent years, we have seen wonderful exhibitions here. I remember 'The Arenbergs' - I am a civil engineer, I studied in the Arenberg Castle Park back then so for me that was extra special (laughs). We took the grandchildren to 'Imagining the Universe' which was also very good. We are already looking forward to the big alabaster exhibition this autumn. Contemporary art exhibitions do not appeal to us as much as old art, but there are still some very strong ones there too. The most recent one was Wael Shawky's expo, I even thought it was too small, I was disappointed that it was over so quickly!"

 

Ria: "The museum regularly organises cultural outings for the M-bassadors, and we are like to come along to those. Last year, we saw Vanhaerents' private collection in Brussels, truly unique, as it is rarely shown. M must have excellent contacts if they can arrange outings like that. This autumn we will join them on a day trip to Mons, which we are very much looking forward to."

 

"Then there are the exclusive tours you can go to for free as an M-bassador. Like the one recently with Tom Hallet, one of the M-residents. His work is sometimes a bit hermetic, but his explanations made me understand what he was trying to say much better. There were quite a lot of people on that tour, and he got a lot of questions. At the end, he even laughed, 'soon I will give away all my secrets here'!"

 

Emiel: "We also try to go to the Friends' Day every year. You can then take part in exclusive guided tours, meet curators and artists and much more, and you also get to know other M-bassadors. You can alos bring along a friend who is not an M-bassador."

Pretty things

Emiel: "If there is one thing that I miss at M, it is bigger names with a link to Leuven. Like Rinus Van de Velde: a native of Leuven, who most recently had a major exhibition at Bozar. It would be really great if M too could show something of him. There is of course the group exhibition Open M, but that is for unknown talent from the region, not established artists."

 

"M doesn't have a permanent line-up, but I don't find that a shortcoming. That often quickly becomes monotonous: when you've seen it once, you’re not quick to come back. At M, they actually alternate the collection presentations, and I like that. The set-up is also thoughtful, they do not bombard you with works and information, there are resting points built in."

 

"We lived abroad for many years: France, the United States, Mexico... We’ve always enjoyed art. Sometimes if we saw something we liked, we bought it. We are not collectors, not at all, we just like pretty things. At M, they have a lot of pretty things. That's why we come here, and keep coming back."

Are you as keen on M as this M-bassador family?

Become an M-bassador, it will give you unlimited access to M and receive invitations to activities, vernissages and tours. Families are also welcome. All children, grandchildren, stepchildren, fosterchildren or godchildren under 18 can become an M-bassador free of charge.

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