For the 2024-2028 policy period, MAP - Museums At the Park drew up a new policy plan. It offers a fresh perspective on the future of our museums and our role within the city. With this plan, we're focusing on openness, collaboration and experience: from strong public engagement to the sustainable development of the entire museum site. The full version of the policy plan is available below, but we're happy to highlight a few key ambitions first.
The key priorities of our policy:
1. A new name, a new mission: MAP - Museums At the Park
MAP is the renewed form of the Stedelijke Musea Sint-Niklaas (Sint-Niklaas City Museums). Four museum locations around Mercator Park together form one open, forward-looking museum focused on heritage, technology and experience.
2. Mission: the visitor at the centre
MAP aims to be a vibrant, welcoming meeting place where everyone can discover art and heritage in an active and surprising way.
3. Vision: welcoming, inclusive and tailored
The visitor experience is at the heart of everything we do. MAP is building an accessible museum with a strong focus on diversity, education and community roots.
4. Four core values form the DNA of MAP
Connection - between people, eras and perspectives
Identity - a many-voiced view of the Waasland region
Accessibility - removing barriers, creating a welcome
Experience - learning and discovery in a lively, technology-supported museum
5. Strategic objectives 2024-2028
MAP firmly establishes itself as a new identity
MAP offers a complete experience for a diverse audience
MAP develops expertise in both cartographic and textile heritage
MAP invests strongly in digital innovation, both for visitors and collection management
6. Four unique museum experiences around Mercator Park
MAP - Mercator - an immersive journey through the world of maps and cartography
MAP - Den Brei - a hands-on dive into textiles, knitting machines and fashion
MAP - Curiosum - a contemporary cabinet of curiosities that sparks the imagination
MAP - Paviljoen - an open space for visual art from the Waasland region, engaging with the present
7. Rooted in the community
MAP works together with schools, artists, associations and local residents. Participation, collaboration and education form the heart of the museum's story.
8. A collection with character
With cartographic highlights, a unique textile collection, a beautiful art and graphic art collection, and rich sub-collections, MAP continues to build on a solid heritage foundation that is actively shared and brought to life.
9. Development of the site: the final piece of the city centre renewal
MAP is becoming a green, cultural meeting place along the axis between the train station, the Grote Markt and the cultural site.
The redevelopment follows the public space masterplan, focusing on both physical and social connection, including community building and thoughtful accessibility.
The museums, academies and theatre will be visibly connected to one another, with the park as the inspiring, restful and lively heart of the site.
Museums At the Park (MAP) is a recognised museum and receives support from the Department of Culture, Youth and Media of the Flemish Government. Thanks to this quality label, MAP is counted among Flanders' regionally significant museums.