The International Cultural Centre (ICC) in Antwerp was the first official institution for contemporary art in Flanders. In the 70s and early 80s the organization contributed significantly to the dissemination and encouragement of the Belgian and foreign avant-garde art. Now established in Brussels, NICC creates spaces for interaction between visual artists, institutions and society, with specific attention to the position of the visual artist, on a local, regional and international level. NICC plays an active role in the support and self-realisation of the professional visual artist. Its aim is to function as a first contact and mouthpiece for visual artists, striving for a qualitative social framework enabling the visual artist to develop his/her practice in a professional and autonomous way.