Astrea wants to help build the legacy of the future together with KMSKA

For many years, the law firm Astrea has had a strong affinity with music, art and aesthetics. Its engagement with KMSKA is a wonderful opportunity to establish a more permanent connection with an institution of prestige and international standing in its home base of Antwerp, say partners Ciska Servais and Frédéric Verspreeuwen.

Why do ypou consider it important to engage in this kind of partnership?

Frédéric Verspreeuwen: "For 17 years, we have been investing in projects that create added value for society. We are passionate music lovers and often attend concerts with our clients and colleagues, most recently Stromae at Werchter Boutique. Building on that tradition and community, we felt the time had come to link our name, on a more permanent basis, to an institution of prestige and stature in our home city of Antwerp. We do have other sponsorship agreements, such as with the Special Olympics, but our collaboration with KMSKA is the only one through which we commit ourselves in this way for the long term."

Why did you choose KMSKA?

Ciska Servais: “The blend of old and new in the museum reflects what we aspire to stand for: an established name, combined with a strong determination to evolve and to remain competitive, relevant and attractive. KMSKA has become a total experience. The dust has been blown off, a bridge has been built to the present. Education remains a core element, but there is also a higher fun factor.”

Frédéric Verspreeuwen: “The collection is unique and carries a strong sense of legacy. People are burning with curiosity to rediscover everything. For me too, it will feel like coming home. As a child, I visited KMSKA regularly, and I am intensely curious to see what it is like now. Will Rubens’s works still make as great an impression on me as they did back then?”

Ciska Servais: “An additional programme such as 'The Ten' by Christophe Coppens, and the opportunity to see what goes on in the restoration studio or the depot, represent an incredible added value to me. They make KMSKA more attractive and more surprising than it was before. I was recently in Abu Dhabi, where an impressive Louvre museum has been built. It is a striking building, but the collection itself is actually less compelling. Here, we have both an impressive building and an outstanding collection.

Cities such as New York, London and Amsterdam make a major statement with their museums, and with the new KMSKA, Antwerp can now do the same. We could not pass up the opportunity to associate our name with such a magnificent institution.”

What is your favourite work from the collection?

“We chose James Ensor’s 'The Intrigue', a subtle nod to our profession, where we more than occasionally deal with intrigues. The painting depicts a range of human types, all wearing masks. In our line of work, too, you encounter many people behind masks, and you must learn how to engage with them. You come to a lawyer not when an intrigue already exists, but because it might arise. Ensor is also accessible: both the most seasoned art connoisseur and the youngest child are addressed. His work is recognisable, yet rich in layers and double meanings. A true multi-talent and an extraordinary figure. It is also remarkable just how extensive and diverse the Ensor collection at KMSKA is.”

What is your company most looking forward to during this partnership?

Ciska Servais: “We will soon host important conferences in Antwerp, both in the maritime sector and beyond. We look forward to treating the attendees with a visit to the museum. We now have a fun and engaging tool at our disposal to work with and surprise people. We won’t go over the top, but we will play to the strengths we have.”

Frédéric Verspreeuwen: “We want to be a partner in every sense of the word. When the museum launches something, we are happy to be there in the front row, sharing that experience with our network. We hope for a creatively dynamic partnership. Our Dutch lawyer friends were partners of the Rijksmuseum. After a meeting there, we went for a meal linked to a visit. That unorthodox experience, in a profession so strictly bound by rules, was a breath of fresh air and gave all of us a real boost.”

Ciska Servais: “We have spoken before about the legacy of the past, but we also want to help build the legacy of the future. We are curious to see how KMSKA will continue to reinvent itself in the coming years with new ideas and perspectives. This is an inspiring total experience for clients, non-clients, colleagues, friends, acquaintances and our children. Something to cherish and be immensely proud of.”