IKOB International Art Centre East Belgium

IKOB – International Art Centre East Belgium is a cultural institution located in Eupen, the largest city of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, within the Province of Liège. The museum is dedicated to contemporary art and holds the distinction of being the only officially recognised art museum within this linguistic community of the country, giving it a unique standing in the region's cultural life.

Where does the name IKOB come from?

The name of the institution is an abbreviation of the German phrase "Internationales Kunstzentrum Ostbelgien in Eupen", meaning the International Art Centre of East Belgium in Eupen. This short form functions as the institution's official, recognisable brand both within the region and beyond, and it has been used consistently in the museum's communications ever since.

When was the art centre founded?

The institution was founded in 1993 by Francis Feidler, who gave it its original name, "IKOB – International Art Centre of East Belgium". For more than a decade it operated under this name as a venue presenting contemporary art in the region, gradually building its position on the cultural map of Belgium's German-speaking Community.

Why was the name changed in 2005?

In 2005, the institution adopted its current name, IKOB International Art Centre East Belgium, while keeping the recognisable IKOB abbreviation under which it was already known to visitors and the local community. The renaming did not interrupt the museum's activity or its standing as the region's main exhibition institution.

What is IKOB's significance for the region?

The fact that IKOB remains the only recognised art museum in the German-speaking Community of Belgium makes it a key reference point for residents and contemporary art enthusiasts from this part of the country. The German-speaking Community is the smallest of Belgium's three linguistic communities, and the presence of a dedicated contemporary art institution in its administrative capital, Eupen, carries considerable weight for local cultural identity.

Where exactly is IKOB located?

The museum is situated in Eupen, a city in the Province of Liège in south-eastern Belgium, close to the border with Germany. The site's approximate geographic coordinates are 50.626°N, 6.0302°E. Its location in Eupen, the administrative centre of the German-speaking Community, underlines the museum's role as a representative institution for the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is IKOB the only art museum in this region of Belgium? Yes, according to available information IKOB is the only officially recognised art museum in the German-speaking Community of Belgium.

Who founded IKOB and when? The institution was founded by Francis Feidler in 1993, initially under the name IKOB – International Art Centre of East Belgium.

Has the museum's name always been the same? No. From its founding in 1993 until 2005, the institution was named "IKOB – International Art Centre of East Belgium"; in 2005 it adopted its current name while keeping the IKOB abbreviation.

What does the abbreviation IKOB stand for? IKOB stands for the German "Internationales Kunstzentrum Ostbelgien in Eupen" – the International Art Centre of East Belgium in Eupen.

In which part of Belgium is Eupen, home to IKOB, located? Eupen lies in the Province of Liège, in the German-speaking part of Belgium, near the border with Germany.