The story of MINO begins in the late summer of 2021, when we – Ama Koranteng-Kumi and Tinne Langens – decided to turn vision into action.

With over two decades of combined experience across museums, the cultural sector, creative industries, and social impact work, we saw a clear gap: a real need for a space where emerging artists and creatives could breathe freely, experiment boldly, and grow without the usual pressures and gatekeeping of the established art world.

We founded MINO independently, as an autonomous initiative, driven by the deep belief that art could be a true catalyst for change – not just producing new work, but reshaping narratives, communities, and systems from the ground up. From the beginning, the focus was clear, a hybrid model for long-term impact, equity, care, and artistic autonomy.

In the vibrant, diverse neighborhood of Dam in Antwerp-Noord, we transformed an old industrial warehouse – 450 m² of raw potential, into a living homebase with a rooftop garden.

What started as an experimental art space quickly became a residency program, exhibition platform, and gathering place for young, emerging, often transdisciplinary artists and makers.

We built community step by step, centering artists from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds – especially those without easy access to traditional institutions or networks. We offered infrastructure, mentorship, and freedom to develop sustainable practices on their own terms, while creating bridges to the Flemish and international contemporary art scenes.

At the same time, we launched MINO Agency. Over the past few years, we’ve been working alongside institutions like KMSKA, Rubenshuis and Flanders DC, and developing programs with partners such as VRT, FOMU and House of European History.

What started as a focus on inclusion and diversity has grown into something broader: guiding organizations through deeper, systemic change. From co-creating with communities to training frontline teams, and from questioning internal structures to rethinking how institutions connect with their context.

Today, we work at the intersection of culture, inclusion, and transformation — supporting organizations that are ready to evolve. At the heart of that work is a strong belief that systems don’t shift on their own; people do. We focus on strengthening leadership from within — not just at the top, but across teams — creating space for ownership, reflection, and accountability. Because sustainable change happens when individuals feel equipped and responsible to question, move, and reshape the systems they are part of.

In 2026, we’re accompanying M HKA in its transition towards a future-proof model, more connected to the city and the people it serves.