What LABIOMISTA does

LABIOMISTA is a 24-hectare evolving mixed-media art park located on the former mining terrain of Genk, Belgium, created by artist Koen Vanmechelen in collaboration with the City of Genk and inaugurated in July 2019. The site integrates outdoor sculptures, taxidermy, bronze, glass, marble, drawings, paintings, video installations, and living animal habitats (tapirs, storks, hokkos, llamas, camels), supported by architecturally distinct structures including The Battery (a studio designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta), The Ark (welcome building), Future Garden (an 850 m² ecological complex with research laboratory and tapir enclosure, opened August 2024), LaMouseion (knowledge hub), Nomadland (community food and event area), and Protected Paradise (rewilding center). Visitor engagement is enabled by multilingual audio guides, The Battery Channel podcast, and online ticketing via Ticketmatic.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model spanning four streams: (1) ticket sales for seasonal admission (April–November), with free entry for Genk residents and children/youth under 18; (2) event-related revenue from food, beverage, and merchandise (notably at the Wild Gene Festival, Nomadland caravans, and Mixed Menu Kiosk); (3) collaborative art projects and licensing revenue through Koen Vanmechelen's international exhibitions (Venice Biennale 2026, GLASSTRESS, Shanghai), artwork commissions for municipalities (Middelkerke, Dilsen-Stokkem), and merchandise partnerships (ALDI Belgium); and (4) educational programs and group bookings (Fusion Lab with JCW, Farming Knowledge with UHasselt, guided tours with trained cross-pollinators). The organization operates with approximately 10 core team members and serves five primary customer segments: general public visitors (Belgian and international tourists), schools and educational institutions, families with children (ages 6–12), local Genk community residents, and youth participants in The Unthinkable Experiment program.

Name

LABIOMISTA

Legal name

LABIOMISTA

Website

https://labiomista.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LABIOMISTA is a 24-hectare evolving art park and living artwork in Genk, Belgium, founded by artist Koen Vanmechelen with the City of Genk, integrating sculpture, animal habitats, and research to serve cultural tourists, schools, families, and the local community through seasonal ticketed programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Park & Art Tourism

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Art park experiences
• Cultural tourism
• Public sculpture park
• Community art projects
• Outdoor contemporary art

Headquarters

HQ city

Genk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Visitors purchase tickets for admission to the seasonal park (April–November). Ticket includes access to the park, audio tour, and audiokids version. Genk residents and children/youth up to 18 receive free entry. Online reservation required only for Open Studio days.
2. Event-Related Revenue (Food, Beverage, Merchandise): The Wild Gene Festival (free entry) and other events generate revenue through food and beverage sales at Nomadland's colorful caravans and the Mixed Menu Kiosk. LABIOMISTA honey is sold in the on-site shop.
3. Collaborative Art Projects and Licensing: Koen Vanmechelen's international exhibitions, art sales, and collaborations (e.g., Venice Biennale solo show 2026, ALDI art project for De Warmste Week, artwork commissions for municipalities like Middelkerke and Dilsen-Stokkem) generate revenue through licensing, sales, and project fees.
4. Educational Programs and Group Visits: Schools and groups can book guided tours with cross-pollinators (guides), educational programs (Fusion Lab with JCW, Farming Knowledge with UHasselt), and school workshops. The Unthinkable Experiment organizes themed knowledge chapters for youth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LABIOMISTA operates a 24-hectare evolving outdoor art park and cultural institution in Genk, Belgium, combining sculpture, mixed-media installations, living animal habitats, and ecological/research facilities under one site. Visitors purchase seasonal admission tickets (April–November) to access the park, audio guides, on-site food and beverage, and special programs such as Open Studio days, festivals, and guided group tours. The organization also generates revenue from Koen Vanmechelen's international art exhibitions, licensing, and commissioned artworks, while running community programs (Nomadland, Mixed Menu, OpUnDi Genk) and educational initiatives with UHasselt and JCW.

Product overview

LABIOMISTA is a 24-hectare evolving cultural park and living artwork created by Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen in collaboration with the City of Genk (Belgium). The site operates as an integrated ecosystem combining visitor experiences, educational programs, and research facilities. Core visitor offerings include the open park, self-guided Audiotour and Audiokids, and Open Studio events (held twice annually). The Battery serves as the artist's studio building by Mario Botta; Future Garden is a research laboratory focused on fertility, immunity, and diversity; LaMouseion hosts The Unthinkable Experiment youth education program; and Protected Paradise supports rewilding initiatives. Community-oriented projects include Nomadland (outdoor area with food/wine caravans and gardens), Mixed Menu food projects, and ME, BEE & TREE. The Open University of Diversity (OpUnDi) coordinates international research initiatives including L.O.C.K. archive and OMIRI Genk participatory music project. In 2025-2026, LABIOMISTA has expanded with LABOVO production space and serves as the conceptual foundation for Koen Vanmechelen's Venice Biennale solo exhibition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OpUnDi (Open University of Diversity): An intellectual crossroads and meeting place focused on biocultural diversity, founded in 2011.
• LaMouseion
• The Battery
• The Unthinkable Experiment
• L.O.C.K. (Library of Collected Knowledge)
• Nomadland
• The Battery Channel

Products and services

• LABIOMISTA Park Admission Ticketed seasonal entry (April–November) to the 24-hectare evolving art park combining sculptures, installations, living animal habitats, Future Garden, LaMouseion, and Nomadland. Free for Genk residents and children/youth under 18; standard paid admission for all other visitors. Sold online via Ticketmatic and at the park entrance.
• Audiotour

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ visitors in inaugural season (2019)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered supportive, core, flagship and minor.

• Europa WSEsupportiveStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Europa WSE supports OpUnDi Genk, the local learning ecosystem within LABIOMISTA that develops participatory projects and community initiatives. OMIRI Genk is a project within OpUnDi Genk, supported by Europa WSE.
• University of Hasselt (UHasselt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUHasselt partners with LABIOMISTA in Future Garden's research laboratory, focusing on immunity (BIOMED institute's MS and rheumatism research), and in the Farming Knowledge pilot program integrating art and science for secondary school students. Rector Bernard Vanheusden emphasized the value of art-science dialogue for unique insights.
• Buro B (Architects)supportiveTechnology or IntegrationBuro B collaborated with Koen Vanmechelen as architects for the Future Garden ecological complex, contributing to the contemporary mastaba design featuring bamboo walls and CLT wood construction.
• Thys BouwprojectensupportiveImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThys Bouwprojecten served as the main contractor for the Future Garden construction project, ensuring sustainability and quality standards for the 850 m² ecological complex.
• Buro LandschapsupportiveTechnology or IntegrationBuro Landschap designed the animal enclosure spaces (indoor and outdoor) within Future Garden, collaborating on the tapir and hokko habitat design spanning over 2,800 m².
• VUB, ULB, KULeuven, UHasselt, Global Campus of Human RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive universities support The Unthinkable Experiment, Koen Vanmechelen's youth-driven philosophical project within LaMouseion. These academic partners contribute knowledge and credibility to the project's interdisciplinary research and educational programming.
• MOUTH FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOUTH Foundation, founded by Philip Remans, supports LABIOMISTA's research and artistic projects. Dr. Philip Remans participates in Future Garden's research laboratory focused on fertility, immunity, and diversity. MOUTH also launched the Wild Gene beer celebrating Vanmechelen's 60th birthday and 30th generation of the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project.
• The Walking Egg (Dr. Willem Ombelet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Willem Ombelet, founder of The Walking Egg, collaborates on Future Garden's research laboratory, contributing expertise in fertility research and contributing to the triade of nature-culture-technology that guides LABIOMISTA's scientific inquiry.
• The Future of Hope (Chido Govera)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial entrepreneur Chido Govera (wife of Koen Vanmechelen) leads Future Garden's research on fungi and sustainable development, emphasizing the interconnectedness of people, nature, and science. She contributes to LABIOMISTA's community and educational outreach.
• C-mine (Genk)supportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerC-mine collaborates with LABIOMISTA on the OMIRI Genk project, hosting the first presentation in the heart of the Nieuwe Kempen neighborhood before the performance continues at C-mine for a broader audience.
• JCW (Youth, Culture & Science)supportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCW collaborates with LABIOMISTA on Fusion Lab, a program where young teenagers explore connections between diversity, identity, and genetics, integrating youth culture with scientific and artistic inquiry.
• SyntraPXL (Metalworking Dual Learning Program)supportiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyntraPXL's metalworking students collaborated on Breaking the Cage, a sculptural installation involving nine new works in the De Kooi series. The project offers young makers an opportunity to merge technical mastery with creativity and social engagement.
• City of GenkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Genk is the primary institutional partner of LABIOMISTA, co-developing the 24-hectare Cosmopolitan Culture Park on former mining land. Mayor Wim Dries actively supports LABIOMISTA's neighborhood transformation initiatives (LaVieBreede, Genk-Noord development). The city manages data protection responsibilities for the site.
• ALDI BelgiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerALDI collaborated with Koen Vanmechelen on an exclusive art project for De Warmste Week (December 2024), selling a reproduction of the drawing 'Cosmogolem, Giant of Hope' for €24.99 in ALDI stores, with proceeds supporting charitable causes.
• Lisette Ma NezasupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels-based artist Lisette Ma Neza co-created Breaking the Cage, contributing poetry and vocals to the site-specific listening performance that guides visitors through De Kooi sculptures, exploring mental, social, and structural cages.
• Vasco Ribeiro Casais (OMIRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese multi-instrumentalist Vasco Ribeiro Casais (OMIRI) is invited by Koen Vanmechelen to create a living musical portrait of Genk, gathering local stories, sounds, and talents over 8–12 months for a live performance at LABIOMISTA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Z33 House for Contemporary Art: Hasselt-based contemporary art house in the same Belgian Limburg region as LABIOMISTA. Comparable as a contemporary art institution in Belgium's Limburg province, with overlapping artist networks and visitor catchment.
• Museum de Fundatie: Dutch contemporary and modern art museum with a sculpture garden component. Regional peer in the contemporary art presentation category with overlapping Northern European art-world networks.

Direct peers

• Inhotim: Brazilian open-air contemporary art museum and botanical garden with a comparable mix of sculpture, landscape, pavilions, and ecological elements. Direct peer as a large-scale contemporary art park integrating art, nature, and research.
• Beelden aan Zee: Dutch sculpture museum and outdoor park near the coast combining a permanent collection with park-style outdoor sculpture. Direct peer in the sculpture park / outdoor museum category with a similar artist-driven identity.
• Wanås Konst: Swedish sculpture park set in a landscape with permanent and temporary contemporary installations, including artist residencies. Direct peer in the contemporary outdoor sculpture park category with comparable scale and educational programming.
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park: One of Europe's leading open-air sculpture parks, combining large-scale contemporary sculpture with parkland, education, and events. Direct peer to LABIOMISTA in scale, model (open-air art park), and audience experience.
• Storm King Art Center: Iconic 500-acre outdoor sculpture park in New York combining monumental sculpture, landscape, education, and ticketed admission. Direct peer in the large-scale sculpture park category with a comparable mix of permanent art, nature, and programming.
• Kröller-Müller Museum: Dutch museum with one of Europe's largest sculpture gardens, combining modern art, nature, and a national park setting. Highly comparable to LABIOMISTA in combining an outdoor sculpture experience with a permanent indoor collection.

Emerging players

• Sculptureum: New Zealand-based sculpture park and tropical garden combining large-scale outdoor sculpture, gardens, and ticketed admission. Comparable as an emerging privately developed art park mixing sculpture, gardens, and visitor experiences.
• Fondation Carmignac: Private contemporary art foundation on a Porquerolles island site, combining art presentation with nature and visitor experience. Comparable as a privately-led art-and-nature destination in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labiomista

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LABIOMISTA