History

Be-Part, Platform for Contemporary Art, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year! On October 30, 2004, the inaugural exhibition Schöner Wohnen: Kunst van Heden voor Alle Dagen opened at its original location on Westerlaan. Since then, Be-Part has not only welcomed countless art enthusiasts but has also introduced thousands of students and children from across Flanders to contemporary art through workshops at the Be-Part Atelier.

In recent years, Be-Part has continued to grow. In 2018, it expanded its activities to Kortrijk, organizing exhibitions in collaboration with various partners and at multiple locations. In 2022, Be-Part in Waregem moved to its current location at the Pand, welcoming guests again with Sunkissed by the Moon, an exhibition by Shirley Villavicencio Pizango.

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From Villa to Platform

Initially, there was a building - a villa from 1936 with a modernist extension added in the 1990s -purchased by the Provincial Government of West Flanders in 2003 in Waregem. Shortly afterward, the concept of combining exhibitions, residencies, workshops, publications, and the building into an interactive dialogue was born. On October 30, 2004, Be-Part officially opened its doors, taking a unique position in a city that, aside from the biennial Gaverprijs for painting and the presence of artists like Johan van Geluwe and the lesser-known Luk Berghe, had little to offer in the field of contemporary visual arts. While the provincial government provided the necessary operational funding, the staff was kept to an absolute minimum.

The first exhibition, Schöner Wohnen, featured works by international luminaries (Martin Kippenberger, Ugo Rondinone, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Tobias Rehberger, Robert Gober, Richard Artschwager...). It demonstrated Be-Part’s high ambitions and was well-received by the press.

Over the years, Be-Part hosted numerous group exhibitions, but primarily focused on solo presentations by internationally acclaimed artists (Navid Nuur, Polly Apfelbaum, Caroline Achaintre, Thorsten Brinckman) and emerging Belgian talent (Thomas Lerooy in 2007, Rinus Van de Velde in 2009, Ante Timmermans and Dennis Tyfus in 2010, Charif Benhelima and Pieter Vermeersch in 2011, Ruben Bellinkx in 2013, Sarah Westphal in 2014, Joris Van de Moortel in 2015, and Sarah & Charles in 2019). Be-Part financially supported the production of new works, often pairing exhibitions with the release of new publications. Collaborations with publishers like Roma and MER., as well as early partnerships with Art Paper Editions and Posture Editions, helped establish their prominence. Additionally, Be-Part adhered to fair practice standards, providing honorariums for each presentation.

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Residencies

The residencies were a unique chapter: Be-Part proved to be an excellent place for artists to fully focus on their work. Artists such as Hans Demeulenaere, Sarah Westphal, Nick Ervinck, Robin and Tinus Vermeersch, and the late Dutch artist Arno Nollen spent considerable time in the Be-Part studio. The philosophy was simple: everything was possible, and nothing was obligatory. These residencies often culminated in exhibitions.

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Be-Part Atelier: A Breeding Ground for Young Creativity

Workshops tied to the exhibitions contributed to Be-Part’s strong local roots in Waregem. These workshops were attended primarily by primary school students, though secondary school students regularly participated in masterclasses. With an average of 100 workshops per year and an average class size of 18 students, it is estimated that approximately 36,000 students from the Waregem region and surrounding municipalities—many for the first time—were introduced to contemporary art.

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Transformative Years: From Change to Renewal

2018 was a pivotal year for Be-Part. Following an internal state reform, the powers of provincial governments were curtailed. After years of uncertainty, it was decided in December 2017 to expand Be-Part’s scope to Kortrijk. The ties with the provincial government that had founded Be-Part were abruptly severed. An intermunicipal association was established, opening new and interesting opportunities for Be-Part. In anticipation of these changes, Be-Part had already proposed the first edition of Triënnale Kortrijk with the theme Play to the city of Kortrijk in 2016. The unexpected success of Play in 2018 led Kortrijk to include a second and third edition in its multi-year planning (Paradise in 2021 and After Paradise in 2024). Be-Part secured a permanent base in ‘de Paardenstallen’, a location originally part of the Tack Brewery, which operated in Kortrijk from 1760 to 1962. Many still remember the exhibition I’m Lost in a Forest by Gideon Kiefer.

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In 2022, Be-Part Waregem experienced a transitional year. Its distinctive building on Westerlaan was sold by the owner (and later demolished), forcing Be-Part to relocate to a new permanent exhibition space. This became ‘de Schakelbox’, centrally located in the city, where both exhibitions and workshops now take place. In the meantime, concrete plans emerged to explore public spaces in Waregem. This led to the concept of the Pirate Pavilion (by Nico Dockx, Voet Architectuur, and Studio Zuidervaart), which found a home in Baron Casier Park in September 2023. This pavilion perfectly embodies the concept (and name) ‘Be Part (of it)’, inviting people to actively participate in a dynamic, ever-evolving artwork.

Looking Ahead

In spring 2025, Abby Kortrijk, a new museum for visual arts, will open, with Be-Part as Kortrijk’s partner. In 2026, Be-Part will present its first exhibition there featuring works by Tom Callemin. The outstanding facilities, scope, and broad support for Abby Kortrijk promise exciting cross-pollination opportunities.

How does Be-Part envision its future development? We aim to stay attuned to the pulse of contemporary art in Flanders and Brussels. Be-Part represents a distinctive, well-curated program, and we intend to maintain this identity. Moreover, Be-Part has established an important position in the visual arts landscape, which we aim to stabilize and expand. The four vertical pillars (exhibitions, residencies, workshops, and publications) that define Be-Part’s uniqueness are intersected by three horizontal pillars: collaboration (with artists, collectors, partners, publishers, etc.), experience (built over time by the team through 89 exhibitions and 3 triennials), and fair practice.