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The former provincial diamond and silver museums have come together to form DIVA that depicts the history of Antwerp in its utmost loyalty and the entire story told through an audio visual medium, a tourists delight indeed. "Though the Diamond Museum and Sterckshof Silver Museum were forced to close in 2012 and 2014 respectively, we didn't concede defeat", says LukLemmens, member of the executive council of the Province of Antwerp and chairman of DIVA. "We seized the challenge of bringing back to life the incredible story of Antwerp as the diamond capital of the world and of Flemish mastery in silversmithing and jewellery design. The big question was: how were we going to do that? How could we rekindle people's enthusiasm for these stories?" DIVA is the result of that exciting thought process, in which the 'City of Antwerp' and 'Visit Flanders' were also closely involved. "In the space of barely four years, we have succeeded in launching this new idea, in finding a suitable location, marshalling national and international partners around the project, securing the necessary budgets, renovating a historic building and opening a new museum." It was no mean feat and, according to LukLemmens, it was only achieved thanks to the drive, commitment and enthusiasm of the DIVA team headed up by museum director Jeroen Martens. DIVA was made possible thanks to the support of the Province of Antwerp, the City of Antwerp, Visit Flanders, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Umicore, AWDC (Antwerp World Diamond Centre) and De Standaard.

DIVA, a brilliant museum

DIVA opened with a dazzling celebration on the 4th of May and the celebration went on till the 6th, an unforgettable weekend wherein History met modernity and made the invitees aghast. DIVA is now open on all days except Wednesdays. A themed exhibition trail will take all the visitors on a journey through Antwerp's diamond story, from illustrious past to awe-inspiring present. An ambitious program of special exhibitions, groundbreaking research, a library, an atelier, two museum shops and two multiuse spaces will put DIVA well and truly on Antwerp's 'must-visit' map. Around 600 objects from DIVA's collection are presented in such a way that the public can engage with them in a meaningful way. Exhibition sets, soundscapes , multimedia and interactive displays bring a different story to life in each of the six themed rooms, thereby involving visitors, sustaining their interest, challenging them to unlock the deeper layers and enriching their overall experience.

Six rooms, six stories

The Wonder Room considers the exoticism of luxury articles, the Atelier the craftsmanship involved in diamond processing and silversmithing, the International Trading Room Antwerp as the world centre of the diamond trade, the Dining Room the etiquette rules and luxury consumption among Antwerp noble families, the Strong Room the question of ethics and authenticity in the diamond and silver sectors, and the Boudoir the precious treasures DIVA surrounds herself with in her most intimate space.

The world of DIVA

Director and scriptwriter Frank Van Laeckecreated DIVA's butler Jérome, who introduces visitors to each theme and gives them a glimpse into DIVA's world . Fictitious stories bring back to life fourteen chefs-d'oeuvrefrom the DIVA collection, including the stunning owl cup and peacock brooch. Interior designer GertVoorjans opens the door to a contemporary Wonder Room packed with curiosities exuding luxury and exoticism. Set designer Carla Jansen Höfelthas worked her magic on the other five rooms in DIVA's house. Together with DIVA they tell Antwerp's Brilliant Story.

DIVA – The Initiation

A partnership between the Province and the City of Antwerp, DIVA tells the story of the clout Antwerp and Flanders have exercised nationally and internationally down the centuries in the production and assembly of highly accomplished and stylish objects and jewellery. To illustrate this story, DIVA has drawn on the collections of the former diamond and silver museums and on numerous lenders who are now all working with the museum. At DIVA museum content meets museum experience.

A perfect location

DIVA is located in the heart of Antwerp's vibrant commercial district. These days you no longer hear the tap, tap, tap of gold and silversmiths at work, but hundreds of years ago that sound emanating from the concentration of workshops in this district would have been almost deafening. DIVA returns to where it all began. The museum creates a place where visitors get to see and experience Antwerp's diamond and silver story. By contextualizing silversmithing and jewellery making in the museum, diamonds are given authenticity, depth and breadth.

A modern museum

DIVA is a twenty-first century museum. Visitors shouldn't expect to find a traditional museum display or any of the usual gallery texts and information panels. Rather, personal stories and a daring interior with provocative sets provide a novel introduction to the story of diamond and jewellery production and silversmithing.

De Museumstichting

De Museumstichting is the umbrella organization for the three Antwerp museums: FOMU Fotomuseum, MoMuModeMuseum and DIVA – Home of Diamonds. In its coalition agreement of July 2014 the new Flemish government decided to curtail the powers of provincial councils. Personal issues, including culture, have been under a different authority since 2018. On September 22nd 2016, the provincial council voted to establish De Museumstichting, a public sector foundation, of which the three provincial museums (FOMU, MoMu and DIVA) are part. This foundation came into existence on January 1st 2017 and was transferred to the City of Antwerp on January 1st 2018. More information: https://demuseumstichting.be/

The rebuild and construction

In June 2014 the Province of Antwerp purchased the buildings of the former Ethnographic Museum and Folk Museum from the City of Antwerp. The buildings had been empty since the integration of the two museums into the MAS (the Museum on the River). In the summer of 2015 Wit architecten and 8 office architects were appointed and they came up with a subtle design for DIVA. That design successfully links the various buildings and adapts them to the requirements of a modern-day museum. Great care was taken to preserve both the historic cityscape and the museum's social role in the surrounding area. The contractor Monument Vandekerckhove started work eighteen months later, in September 2016. Monument managed to complete all the renovation work in under two years.

DIVA also boasts a very fine library with over 23000 publications, an atelier where you can follow jewellery design and silversmithing workshops, venue rooms for hire and two shops (museum shop and jewellery shop). will also be scope for school and creative sector involvement. The workshops are intended for experts and professionals in the jewellery design and silversmithing sectors, selfstarters and improvers and also for the general public.

DIVA for business

In the section of the Suikerrui you will find two venues for hire. Nocturnes, lectures, congresses, … can be organized in one of these venues. DIVA also gives you the opportunity to visit DIVA, a Brilliant Story exclusively with your company. A catering partner will host the event.

Two Museum Shops

The museum's two shops are run by Antwerp jeweller's Silvius Druon. The museum shop on the ground floor reflects the five themes of DIVA´s house. The carefully selected merchandise is displayed in such a way that it really comes into its own and at the same time offers passers-by a DIVA experience.

The first floor houses SilviusDruon's new flagship store, which stocks its own stunning range of jewellery, diamonds and watches as well as other Belgian makes. More information: www.silviusdruon.com

A visit @DIVA

DIVA is keen to ensure that a visit to the museum is an individual experience and encourages visitors to devise their own trail. The various layers of information make DIVA accessible to a wide public, thereby satisfying the needs of both specialists and tourists. This will make DIVA accessible to a wide audience.

Individualized visits

Visitors explore the six themed rooms with the aid of interactive displays, videos, touch screens, textual information and the audio-guide. Great care is taken to choose media that don't stand in the way of communication and interaction between visitors.

Guided tours are only available for the special exhibitions, the first being in October 2018.

Families in the museum

Families can experience the DIVA story together. For the 7 to 11 age group, DIVA has designed interactive, activity-based assignments and discovery moments throughout the six themed rooms. Children can build their own Wonder Room, play computer games in the International Trading Room and even dive under the table in DIVA's Dining Room. A visit to DIVA won't easily be forgotten!

The museum does not charge admission for children aged under 12.

The Knowledge Centre

There is more to a museum than exhibitions; it also has a crucial duty to the public. DIVA's Knowledge Centre ensures that what goes on public display is of the highest possible quality. By establishing links with researchers, universities, and fellow institutions, the Knowledge Centre is fundamental to the authenticity and quality of the story the museum tells. It is DIVA's ambition to become a veritable authority on diamonds, jewellery and silver in Flanders and the Benelux.

Research

As a national centre for silversmithing, jewellery and diamonds, DIVA is ideally placed to conduct research in these three areas. DIVA's multidisciplinary approach places silver and silversmithing in a wider context, thereby reflecting the importance of its relationship with other art disciplines, but equally with other handicrafts and trades and with the socio-economic, historical reality. This broad approach is applied to creating the new presentation of items in the museum's collection and is the guiding principle behind future research into the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Thanks to this research-led approach, collections and objects can be shown in context and wider historical developments of an artistic, cultural and social nature visualized. The new information will bring to light stories the public at large can relate to.

The museum is supported in this by a scientific advisory council of experts from international museums, and by the most recent specialist publications.

Conservation and Restoration Atelier

Now that DIVA boasts a new Conservation and Restoration Atelier, she can once again play an active role in the creative sector. This is Belgium's only atelier in public hands that is staffed by experts. The atelier is located on the third floor of Gildekamersstraat and is linked to the part of the museum site housing the exhibition spaces.

Library

The amalgamation of the Province of Antwerp's former Diamond Museum and Silver Museum has resulted in collections, including library collections, being brought together under one and the same roof. The library collection is a worthy complement to the specialist sections of the Rijksmuseum and V&A Museum libraries. The new collection management system Qi and library management system Koha have enabled DIVA to manage and present all its various sub-collections. The public can view the collection at http://divaantwerp.be/nl/collection/zo ek-in-de-collectie.