CapitalatWork wants to inspire young people to develop a passion for art through the KMSKA

Wealth manager and planner CapitalatWork has nurtured a special passion for art and culture for over 30 years. Its partnership with the KMSKA comes as no surprise. Managing Director Maarten Rooijakkers explains.

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

Maarten Rooijakkers: “At our firm, we have traditionally been interested in culture and the arts. They connect young and old, as well as people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Among our clients are many art lovers, individuals with art assets, collectors, and artists. I find it fascinating to talk with them about something other than numbers, financial markets, and inflation. Art is emotion, and as a company, we desperately need that. Sometimes an account or investment may yield less than expected, and clients may be dissatisfied. If you can share something emotional and maintain good contact, trust endures. Emotion is a key concept in our profession.”

Why did you choose KMSKA?

“Antwerp is an important catalyst in the arts. If you look at what happened here with the Antwerp and Flemish schools, it’s clear that this has always been a remarkable city for art, and it still is today. As an important and rapidly growing subsidiary of the Foyer Group, we want to play a leading role in this legacy as well. With the renewed KMSKA, this beautiful city now has a museum that ranks among the top in Europe, and perhaps even the world. The combination of the historic building with the new contemporary galleries is truly impressive. I look forward to immersing our art-loving clients in that environment. The KMSKA inspires, sparks imagination, and broadens the mind. You couldn’t find a better setting in Antwerp. Finally, an additional benefit: art provides a historical perspective, allowing you to see and understand the present and future in a different light. I consider this educational aspect essential.”

What is your favourite work?

“As a law student at the VUB, I bought lithographs by Pierre Alechinsky, but I am also a big fan of Ensor. When I stand in front of his works, it feels as if I’m being pulled in. His colors and atmosphere really move me. There are iconic pieces like 'The Intrigue' and 'The Entry of Christ into Brussels', but I’m a fan of his entire oeuvre. A Belgian pioneer of modern art and a true artistic all-rounder who gained international recognition. And on top of that, the KMSKA holds the largest Ensor collection in the world!”

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

“I hope we will be closely involved in everything that happens at the museum. And perhaps we can also contribute through our financial, tax, and legal expertise. I would love it if the children of our clients, their friends and family, could be drawn into the world of art through us. I often hear that you’re either born with an interest in art or not, but you can also grow into it if given a nudge by the people around you. I therefore hope that the KMSKA will strongly invest in this as well, with tailored communication and inspiring programs, while continuing to reinvent itself.”