Selected Developments considers KMSKA a total spectacle and a formidable calling card for its international contacts

Selected Developments is a new player in the property development market. A partnership with KMSKA fits perfectly with their social vision and business strategy, and comes at an ideal moment. Legal manager Jan De Paepe explains why.

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

Jan De Paepe: “Our company was recently established as a subsidiary of a Luxembourg investment fund. Our goal is, of course, to provide an attractive return to our investors, but we also want to support sectors that have suffered greatly during the pandemic. We believe it is fundamental for the business world to take on this role, and we therefore allocate our marketing budget across the culture, events, and sports sectors. In Brussels, we have a partnership with RSC Anderlecht, in Ostend with the Wellington Racecourse, and in Antwerp with KMSKA. Since we still need to build brand recognition, PR is an important element, but social engagement plays a key role.”

Why did you choose KMSKA?

“For a new company, there are many options, but our curiosity about the renovation and the museum’s prestigious, expanded, and partially restored art collection drew us in. The fact that KMSKA is now experiencing a second life after years of closure, while we ourselves are celebrating a new beginning, aligns perfectly. The timing couldn’t be better. Additionally, we want to offer our investors, who are often highly art- and culture-minded, something beyond a football match or a horse race.

It is written in the stars that the museum will have enormous appeal in the coming years, both nationally and internationally. You have the artworks, the surroundings, the décor, the garden, and the architectural splendor of both the old classical building and the new section. It is a total spectacle that you won’t find in many other museums. Through our Luxembourg fund, we also have a strong international component. This makes it a formidable calling card and a sublime experience for our international contacts. KMSKA is a major magnet, with at least a European appeal. As a Belgian company, you should take advantage of it and showcase it.”

What is your favourite work from the collection?

“I have a fondness for James Ensor because he is a Belgian artist who connects with contemporary art. I love the way he paints and his choice of subjects. Ensor is a free spirit and a pioneer. He worked with light and color in an inimitable way. I don’t have a preference for a specific work, but I find him a versatile and intriguing figure, one we can be extremely proud of.”

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

“We haven’t thought about it in great depth yet. But in any case, I would definitely like to organize several evenings for our key contacts, with a tailored tour led by one of the KMSKA curators, combined with a delicious dinner in one of the museum’s stunning halls. It will undoubtedly be a hit. And an unforgettable experience for both mind and heart.”