Leo Stevens Private Banking builds a bridge between entrepreneurs and the museum world

Leo Stevens Private Banking has had a deep passion for the arts for over 70 years. Its close connection with the KMSKA is therefore no surprise. Director and shareholder Ingrid Stevens explains why.

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

Ingrid Stevens: “Art and culture are inseparably linked to our company. Our mission states, “Art amazes, enriches, inspires, pushes boundaries, and connects,” and we want to share that with everyone. It’s about more than just numbers. Through our new initiative, LS Art, we commit to supporting museums with advice and action, bringing together art-loving clients in a community, and creating opportunities for young artists. I have been a member of the KMSKA Board of Directors for some time, and previously I served on the board of the Fashion, Photography, and Diamond Museum. My mission is to build a bridge between entrepreneurs and the museum world. I find that fascinating, but I also see it as a social responsibility, especially at a time when government funding for art and culture is steadily decreasing.”

Why did you choose KMSKA?

“I have long been a Friend of the KMSKA. We are also neighbors and have been located for 20 years in the museum’s old catering building. Over the past 11 years, we have watched the KMSKA come back to life. Because of all this, I consider it a bit ‘my place.’ The museum has a collection of international caliber and is an architectural gem. When I step inside, I feel small and humble amidst that grandeur. And I very much want to contribute to making it a top European museum.”

“As a partner, we are a bit unconventional. We support the project De Tien by artist Christophe Coppens, the result of his personal and inventive take on ten details from the KMSKA collection. The goal is to give children a playful and adventurous entry into the museum, while also creating a cross-generational experience. That fits perfectly with us. This way, we aim not only to engage children but also to stimulate the playful and artistic side of adults.”

What is your favourite work from the collection?

“I love Rubens’ The Adoration of the Magi: overwhelming, vibrant, and full of symbolism and detail. When I walk into the Rubens Room, I get goosebumps. In March, when his monumental work The Baptism of Christ was lifted out of storage, I had tears in my eyes. A magical moment.

I am also proud to have been part of the recent acquisition of James Ensor’s Carnival of Binche through an innovative financing method using digital security tokens. It is now on loan to the KMSKA: a first for a European museum! Every museum has gaps in its collection. For the KMSKA, it was a late-period Ensor. The museum did not have the means to purchase it itself, but through this approach, we made it happen, and hundreds of thousands of visitors can now enjoy it.”

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

“What I am already experiencing with the KMSKA is truly magnificent and makes me extremely proud. In addition, we want to immerse and excite our clients and colleagues in the world of art through future events. We are also looking forward to the museum restaurant. We often dine with our clients, and if that can be done in such an inspiring setting: what more could one ask for? (laughs)”