Continue to content

KIK-IRPA's news

Discover the latest news in the field of Belgian heritage.

KIK Fundraising 01 00 34 10 Still049

An unforgettable evening in support of the Rubens chapel

19.12.2024

On Thursday, December 12th, 2024, heritage enthusiasts gathered at the Saint James' Church in Antwerp for a successful fundraising dinner in support of the conservation and restoration of Rubens' tomb chapel and its artistic treasures.

On behalf of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage and the Church Board of Saint James' Antwerp, we would like to sincerely thank everyone – both those in attendance and other donors – for their support and generosity.

Read more
F3 P1 Foto 15

Conservation of the Ghent Altarpiece continues to reveal the unparalleled virtuosity of the Van Eyck brothers

10.12.2024

As with the first two phases of the conservation-restoration project of the Ghent Altarpiece, the KIK-IRPA team has encountered extensive overpainting from the 16th century. The removal of the thick and often heavily darkened layers of paint requires significant time and concentration but gradually reveals the subtle nuances so characteristic of the Van Eyck brothers' painting technique.

Read more
20220922 Bonka KIK Preview 09149

Celebrating Art and Science at BRAFA 2025

09.12.2024

The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) is proud of its new collaboration with BRAFA on the 70th anniversary of the art fair. This year's Brussels Art Fair will take place from 26 January to 2 February 2025.

Read more
3 case study Enghien

Rescuing and revaluing textile heritage through CHrisis

03.12.2024

The Textiles Studio of KIK-IRPA worked on two subprojects within the CHrisis project, which was initiated following the 2021 floods in Wallonia. The first project focused on investigating the effects of first aid actions on the long-term preservation and conservation treatment of water-damaged textile heritage. The second research project centered on assessing the value and significance of liturgical textiles.

Read more
Foto3

Chancellor Rolin in 3.5 billion pixels. A masterpiece by Van Eyck as you've never seen it before

23.04.2024

The Louvre in Paris recently solicited the services of KIK-IRPA for the exhibition 'Revoir Van Eyck. La Vierge du Chancelier Rolin', which runs until June 17, 2024. The painting of The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin, freshly restored, was captured in images again by our teams. Moreover, it got its own section on the Closer to Van Eyck website.

Read more
F3 P1 Foto 20

Third phase Ghent Altarpiece: First results promise stunning outcome

26.03.2024

Since May 2023, the third and final phase of the large-scale conservation-restoration campaign of the altarpiece of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) is ongoing. In recent months, the KIK-IRPA team have been removing non-original varnishes and have carried out a thorough examination of the paint layers underneath. Currently, following the advice of the international commission of experts, they have started removing 16th-century overpaints. Already the first results are breathtakingly beautiful.

Read more
Christus Met Doornenkroon Tijdens Restauratie

A scientific exploration in 'Atelier Bouts'

16.02.2024

From 16 February to 28 April 2024, you will discover at M Leuven everything about the practice of Dieric Bouts, the 15th-century painter from Leuven. Through six works of art, six different scientific research techniques are shown. The contribution of the expertise of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage was crucial in this.

Read more
DSF4185 small

The restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece explained to the public

08.02.2024

A recent news report on the VRT website shows the progress of the restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers. The team of restorers, supported by a committee of experts, is making substantial progress on the upper panels of the polyptych. The coverage by the VRT highlights the meticulous work of the restorers.

Read more
Retable KBR museum 11 12 23 10 small

The Milan Altarpiece and its Magi at the KBR

13.12.2023

The Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) is presenting, for one month only, an exceptional exhibition dedicated to the altarpiece of the Adoration of the Magi from the Basilica of San Nazaro Maggiore in Milan. This piece is a masterpiece of Brussels' 15th-century artistic heritage, recently restored by KIK-IRPA. Its Magi are in the spotlight.

Read more
Csm NEMO EMC 2023 Photo Panu Salonen 2 2 239f0f07aa

NEMO 2023 Conference: Driving Towards a Sustainable Future

22.11.2023

At the heart of the NEMO European Museum Conference 2023, KIK-IRPA played a crucial role in developing concrete tools to initiate a paradigm shift in the cultural sector.

Read more
20220310 Bonka KIK Online 06496

E-RIHS: Towards a European research infrastructure

14.11.2023

Our colleague Wim Fremout coordinates the Belgian node of the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science (E-RIHS), supporting the interpretation, documentation, preservation, and management of heritage in Europe. Explore further on the new E-RIHS website.

Read more
2020 Bozar Installation view Facing Van Eyck The Miracle of Detail Photo Philippe De Gobert 5 1 1

'Facing Van Eyck' exhibition comes to Berlin

19.10.2023

The interactive installation 'Facing Van Eyck. The Miracle of Detail' is back on show! From 20 October to 3 March 2024, it will be on show at the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, as part of the exhibition 'Zoom auf van Eyck. Meisterwerke im Detail'.

Read more