M’s collection is constantly changing. Thus, every year we enrich our collection with unique pieces that tell an exceptional story. In 'Museum in Motion', a number of these acquisitionsare shown in the museum galleries for the first time.
From attic room to city museum
There are currently around 53,000 works in M's collection, with everything from tiny coins to gigantic sculptures and paintings. Creating such a collection was not done overnight. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the small 18th-century collection of curiosities in the Leuven Town Hall grew into a proper city museum, which eventually found shelter in the Vander Kelen-Mertens house – the core of M. Even now, the collection is continuously being expanded. This is done in three ways: through purchases, donations and long-term loans.
M’s collection is built around certain content outlines and criteria. Therefore, when acquiring new works, the main question is: does this work constitute a relevant addition to the existing collection? The heart of old art collection are the works from the late Middle Ages and the 19th century, with a focus on sculpture. In addition, M also boasts an extraordinary contemporary art collection. The museum has since 2012 managed the Cera collection, which mainly includes Belgian artists, and regularly receives works on long-term loan from the Flemish Community.
During your visit
Ready to visit M? All the texts and audio that you can use during your visit can also be consulted digitally.
Een maandelijkse update van wat er in M te beleven valt?
Op de hoogte blijven van alle initiatieven, activiteiten en tentoonstellingen van M? Schrijf je hieronder in op de nieuwsbrief en dan zorgen wij op onze beurt voor jouw maandelijkse portie nieuws van M.
