De Warande remains a province

The Turnhout cultural center De Warande remains under the management of the province of Antwerp.

Last summer, Jan Jambon appointed François Mylle as intendant for the Turnhout cultural center. Mylle is general manager of the city of Geel and, as the former director of the Geels cultural center De Werft, also had experience in the cultural sector. He was given the assignment to explore all possible scenarios within six months that could lead to a new sustainable management structure for the cultural center.

Ultimately, it was decided to extend the authorization to the province of Antwerp. “The aim is to develop a creative hub for the operation of the Warande,” says Mylle. “A new agreement will also be drawn up between the city of Turnhout and the province in which the roles and responsibilities of the government levels are clearly described.” Because the province is not legally allowed to manage cultural centers, Flanders will draw up a special decree to perpetuate the exceptional position of the Warande. “Until another solution is found,” says Mylle. “As soon as there is a better alternative – for example by bundling social forces in the Kempen – the involvement and support of the province in the Warande will disappear.”

The ‘decree tailored to the Warande’ still has to be approved by the Flemish Parliament.