History......

The Artists' Fund originated following a friendly chat between Marie-Elisabeth Belpaire, a 90 year old Maecenas and her youngest collaborator Benoit Roose. The foundation's aim was threefold : to serve God, the Poor and Art and especially to alleviate the great need that existed among artists during the war years.

From the very moment the fund was set up Queen Elisabeth, who was a close friend of M.E. Belpaire's, was made Patroness and the fund was allowed to bear the name Queen Elisabeth Foundation. Ms. Belpaire became the new association's honorary president and Benoit Roose became the president.

The association's original name was "Artists' penny" and this immediately identified its main objective : to collect "pennies" to support artists who were either in need or at the beginning of a career or both. During and immediately after the war this support chiefly consisted of material gifts such as loaves of bread, butter or coal.

On White Sunday 13th June 1943 the first Artists' mass was held in Antwerp's artistic temple par excellence : the Carolus Borromeus Church. Each Sunday the numbers attending grew and the Artists' mass became a big success. This was largely the result of the dedication and unpaid work of countless artists, singers and musicians. Queen Elisabeth renewed her support for this exceptional initiative during a visit to the Artists' mass on 1st February 1948.

In 1949 the association's name was changed to "Artists' Fund" and it became a real fund from which all kinds of artists could receive support. Around the same time the "Alex De Vries Fund" that had the same goals also came into being. In the course of the '50s and '60s the Artists' Fund developed into a concert association that gave young artists an opportunity to perform or exhibit their work because at that time like today no distinction is made between different kinds of artists.

As a result of the abundance of concert organisations and the economic recession the concerts and exhibitions became less frequent, with in the end only a couple a year being staged.

One thing has never changed though : the Sunday Artists' Mass in the St. Carolus Borromeus church.