Once in a Blue Moon – 60 Jahre Kunsthaus Hamburg

During a guided tour, visitors can learn more about the history and current activities of the Kunsthaus.

The Kunsthaus Hamburg was founded in 1962 by the Cultural Affairs Department at the request of Hamburg artists and officially opened the following year with a group exhibition. Originally, the institution was housed in its own Bauhaus-style building designed by architect Paul Seitz at Ferdinandstor; however, this building was demolished in the early 1990s to make way for the new building housing the Galerie der Gegenwart at the Hamburger Kunsthalle. In 1993, the Kunsthaus moved into the premises of the former flower market hall, which it still shares today with other cultural institutions, such as the Markthalle, the Kunstverein in Hamburg, the Academy of Arts, the Barlach Halle K, and the Galeriehaus.

We are taking the Kunsthaus’s 60th anniversary as an opportunity for self-reflection, to draw on the past and generate new momentum. Founded on the initiative of regional artists, the Kunsthaus’s central mission will continue to be offering them an inviting, open, and globally connected platform. This programmatic focus is expanded through multifaceted interconnections with national and international perspectives.