The Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart and the Collection of Contemporary Art of the Federal Republic of Germany are entering into an important strategic partnership and will co-operate more closely in future. This has been decided by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Hamburger Bahnhof and a corresponding co-operation agreement has been concluded with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, to which the Hamburger Bahnhof belongs.
Image above: Hamburger Bahnhof Nationalgalerie der Gegenwar Invalidenstrasse 50 Berlin Mitte
The partnership is intended to increase the international visibility of the Federal Art Collection and link it more closely with the work of Hamburger Bahnhof. To this end, Hamburger Bahnhof will assume curatorial responsibility for the Federal Art Collection and its further development. Works from the Federal Art Collection, which currently does not have its own home, will be regularly included in the exhibition programme at Hamburger Bahnhof.
Minister of State Claudia Roth: “The Federal Art Collection and Hamburger Bahnhof have been working closely together for many years. Works by important artists such as Rebecca Horn, Isa Genzken and Haegue Yang from the Federal Art Collection are currently on permanent loan to Hamburger Bahnhof. This cooperation will now be significantly intensified in the future. The strategic partnership is a great benefit for both sides. It will enable the Federal Art Collection to be brought even more to life and displayed more extensively. In addition, the further development and expansion of the Federal Art Collection will be very profoundly and professionally curated by Hamburger Bahnhof.”
Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil, directors of Hamburger Bahnhof: “The partnership brings together two of the most important public collections of contemporary art in Germany: the Bundeskunstsammlung and Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart. This unique collection of two partners reflects the diversity of the art scene in Germany in a global context. In the future, the Federal Art Collection will also gain international significance, while at the same time being made accessible to the Berlin public. Following the permanent securing of the buildings in November 2022, the realignment of the programmatic lines and the presentation of the collection in June 2023, we are now marking another decisive step towards positioning the Hamburger Bahnhof as the leading international museum of the Nationalgalerie for contemporary art.”
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation: “Taking over the curatorial responsibility for the magnificent Federal Art Collection, which was founded by Willy Brandt, fills the entire SPK with pride. This is an enormous opportunity for the Hamburger Bahnhof, which has repeatedly hosted presentations of this collection, starting with the ‘actionbutton’ exhibition in 2003. It is an important sign that the Federal Republic of Germany is collecting in order to gain an overview of themes and trends. It endures criticism as it endures contradictions. That is the opposite of statesmanship.”
The “Collection of Contemporary Art of the Federal Republic of Germany” was established in 1970 by Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt. It now comprises over 2,100 works and documents the development of contemporary art in the Federal Republic of Germany in an outstanding manner. The works are acquired on the recommendation of an independent acquisition commission appointed by the Minister of State. The holdings are also available internationally for loan free of charge and are regularly requested for exhibitions or as long-term loans by museums and major exhibition centres. The Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden and the Neues Museum Nürnberg, for example, dedicate their own rooms to loans from the Federal Art Collection. Numerous works are also exhibited in prominent federal offices in Germany and abroad, making them accessible to a large public.
The Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart was founded in Berlin in 1996 as a museum for contemporary art. It houses a significant part of the Nationalgalerie’s collection from the 1960s onwards, with a particular focus on new media and time-based works. The iconic building complex, consisting of historic railway station buildings, freight halls and garden areas, is a listed building and is located directly on the former Berlin Wall in the centre of Berlin. With 400,000 visitors in 2023 and 12,000 square metres of exhibition space, Hamburger Bahnhof is one of the largest and most influential museums of contemporary art in Europe.
WHEN?
Thursday, 11.07.2024
Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10 am – 6 pm, Thursday 10 am – 8 pm, Saturday + Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
WHERE?
Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
Invalidenstraße 50/51
10557 Berlin-Mitte
