New director ad interim for AfricaMuseum from 1 October, KVS confirms new artistic director

Sara Lammens, general director of The Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), will take over the interim general management of the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren from 1 October.

Her nomination follows the announcement in May that the mandate for the current director, Bart Ouvry, would not be extended, reports Bruzz.

Lammens will remain as head of the KBR in Brussels. When confirming that Ouvry’s six year mandate would end prematurely after three years, minister of science policy Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés), said this was part of the federal government's reform of scientific institutions.

From 1 January 2028, Belgium’s 10 federal scientific institutions will be grouped under two large bodies: 'Art and Heritage' and 'Earth and Space'. This will result in services such as human resources, finance, facility services and IT being gradually shared.

But the AfricaMuseum has also been plagued by controversy over the past few months. A sacked member of staff complained about toxic behaviour and the lack of a culture of debate and evaluation.

Meanwhile, the museum is facing an allegation of racism by one of its guards, there is ongoing criticism of the museum by the country’s African diaspora, and visitor figures have been dwindling.

Lammens brings considerable experience to the high-profile position. The musicologist joined the KBR in 2004, becoming its managing director in 2017. She has also previously held the position of interim general director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (RMFAB).

Dries Douibi named new artistic director of KVS

The board of directors of Brussels' Flemish city theatre KVS has unanimously appointed Dries Douibi as artistic director for a six-year term, with the possibility of one renewal.

He will join managing director Kristien De Coster to form the executive leadership of KVS from September, the theatre said in a statement.

As a dramaturge and curator, Douibi possesses extensive experience in the local and international arts scene. He formed part of the artistic leadership of Kunstenfestivaldesarts for eight editions, was previously in charge of the performing arts programme at Beursschouwburg and served as artistic director of the Bâtard Festival. Since 2025, Douibi has been artistic director of LOD Muziektheater in Ghent.

For Douibi, KVS should become even more of a theatre for Brussels by strengthening its collaborations with local artists, organisations, schools, associations and residents, while continuing to embrace its role as a leading Flemish and Dutch-speaking cultural institution in the capital.

He also aims to further expand KVS's international partnerships with city theatres and arts institutions across Europe.

Photos: (main image) Sara Lammens in 2023 ©KBR; Dries Douibi ©Bea Borgers