FAQ
INТRODUCTION
This section provides essential answers about the Belgian Art Institute and the BACON NFT project. It covers institutional background, project details, licensing rights, practical guidance for collectors, and the cultural mission behind the initiative.
This FAQ is designed both for collectors and for those who are new to NFTs, ensuring clarity and transparency.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
1. What is the Belgian Art Institute?
Founded in 2014, the Belgian Art Institute is an independent organization uniting collectors, researchers, and art experts. We focus on the study, preservation, and interpretation of artistic heritage, combining classical methodologies with modern technologies.
2. What does the Institute do?
Our research focuses on:
– attribution of artworks;
– technical analysis and dating;
– provenance studies;
– recontextualization of overlooked or misinterpreted works.
Special attention is devoted to late 19th–early 20th century painting, particularly Impressionism.
3. Why do you work with Web3 and NFTs?
We see Web3 not as a trend but as a cultural extension of our mission. Blockchain ensures authenticity and preservation of artworks in the digital age.
4. Why was your activity not public before?
For years, the Institute operated confidentially, working with private collections and guaranteeing the anonymity of owners. Today, we open part of our archives and research to the public through educational and digital projects.
ABOUT THE BACON NFT PROJECT
5. What is the BACON NFT project?
BACON NFT is the tokenization of an authentic self-portrait by Francis Bacon (1909–1992), inscribed “To Ron Francis”. The project is led by the Belgian Art Institute and combines rigorous academic verification with Web3 technology.
6. What does the collection include?
The project consists of:
– 5 collections of 1,111 fragments each (5,555 NFTs total), each representing one-fifth of the painting. Each collection has a color-based title: White, Grey, Purple, Orange, Blue. Together, they gradually reveal the full portrait;
– 1 unique 1/1 NFT with Bacon’s handwritten dedication (raffled after the 3rd collection);
– 1 unique 1/1 NFT of the complete digital portrait (raffled after the 5th collection).
7. How is the painting’s authenticity confirmed?
– Graphological analysis of the inscription (Debora Jaffe, UK Law Society)
– Chemical and technical analysis, dating (Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, Belgium)
– Radiocarbon analysis (Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, Belgium)
– Documented provenance (Gummesons Gallery, Sweden)
– Independent valuation (MAES, Belgium)
8. Where is the original painting stored?
The self-portrait is securely kept in a professional art storage facility in Belgium.
RIGHTS AND LICENSING
9. What rights do NFT holders receive?
Each NFT grants:
– ownership of the token linked to a specific fragment;
– non-exclusive commercial rights to that fragment’s image (merch, publishing, licensing, with attribution: BACON NFT, Belgian Art Institute);
– non-commercial personal use rights for the full image (after all collections are revealed);
– access to expert documentation: analyses, provenance, reports.
🛑 Ownership of an NFT does not include rights to the physical painting.
10. Can the full image of the painting be used?
Once all collections are released, holders may use the complete image for personal, non-commercial purposes (education, social media, private display). Commercial use of the full image remains the exclusive right of the Institute.
11. Who receives the rights to the unique 1/1 NFTs?
– The NFT with Bacon’s dedication (raffled after the 3rd collection): the winner gains non-exclusive personal and public non-commercial rights. Participation requires ownership of at least one NFT from each of the first three collections.
– The NFT of the full digital portrait (raffled after the 5th collection): the winner gains non-exclusive personal and public non-commercial rights. Participation requires ownership of at least one NFT from all five collections.
12. When will I receive the bonus NFT for early buyers?
All bonus NFTs granted to buyers during the first 48 hours of the White Collection launch will be automatically distributed on November 15, 2025 — two days before the raffle of the unique 1/1 full self-portrait NFT by Francis Bacon.
🛑 The bonus NFT will be assigned to the current holder of the qualifying token at the time of distribution. This rule is enforced by the smart contract to ensure transparency and fairness.
🎁 This initiative is a gesture of gratitude towards those who supported the Institute’s cultural mission from the very beginning. By linking the delivery of bonus NFTs to a specific later date, the system minimizes speculative trading, prevents artificial price manipulation, and preserves the ethical balance of the project within its framework.
13. Where and when can I purchase NFTs?
NFTs are released in stages on OpenSea, every two weeks. The first collection (White) launches on September 18, 2025.
THE INSTITUTE CLUB AND PARTNERSHIP
14. What is the Belgian Art Institute Club?
The Club fosters a respectful community of like-minded individuals who share the Institute’s mission of preserving and digitally safeguarding humanity’s artistic heritage.
Membership levels:
– Friend of the Institute — holder of at least one Bacon NFT;
– Curator of the Institute — holder of five Bacon NFTs.
Further details are available on the Institute’s official website.
15. Can I propose collaboration or request expertise?
Yes. The Belgian Art Institute welcomes proposals from private collectors, galleries, and cultural institutions. Preliminary requests are submitted through the official form on our website. Each case is carefully reviewed by the Institute’s Scientific Council, which evaluates the artistic significance, historical importance, and cultural relevance of the work in question.
This approach ensures that collaborations and expertises remain aligned with the mission of the Institute: to preserve, study, and re-contextualize humanity’s artistic heritage through both classical methods and digital innovations.
16. How can I contact you?
You can reach us directly via email at:
We respond to inquiries within 48 hours.
For updates, announcements, and ongoing activities, follow us on:
– Discord
– X (Twitter)
The Institute values open dialogue, academic transparency, and cultural responsibility. If your question is not covered in this FAQ, feel free to reach out — we regularly expand this section based on inquiries from our community.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR COLLECTORS
17. How do I connect to OpenSea and purchase an NFT?
You need a crypto wallet (e.g., MetaMask) with ETH balance. Connect it to OpenSea, select your token, and purchase directly.
18. Where should I store my NFTs?
We recommend MetaMask.
19. What if I lose access to my wallet?
Without your seed phrase, recovery is impossible. The Belgian Art Institute cannot intervene in such cases.
Didn’t find your question?
Contact us — we will expand this FAQ. The Belgian Art Institute works in the spirit of open dialogue, academic transparency, and cultural responsibility.