More art in the city - rethinking the idea of the future art institution

Kunsthal Aarhus is rethinking the idea of the future art institution and moving out in the city to meet its citizens into their daily life. The Nordea Foundation supports the project ‘Museum without walls’, which will create more art into the city life.

The project ‘Museum without walls’ aims to expand the institution beyond the physical structure of the building and expand our artistic remit from the gallery into public context. The project aims especially to open the institution up and facilitate a wider public participation, both physically and online. This is what we refer to as a ‘museum without walls’.

”We are rethinking the idea of the future art institution. To be more precise, the idea is to transform Kunsthal Aarhus into a new type of art institution, which is more open, accessible and connected to the outside world. This thinking informs the longer term direction and a larger project for Kunsthal Aarhus that extends until 2017, and it is with great pleasure that we are able to collaborate with the Nordea Foundation that joins this project,” says Joasia Krysa, Artistic Director of Kunsthal Aarhus.

The project is supported by the Nordea Foundation with the amount of 3,18 million kr.

“‘Museum without walls’ moves the art into the city and appears in our everyday life – maybe on our way to work, to school, or while shopping. And maybe we will stop and wonder or smile, and thereby get a new insight or consideration on things,” says Henrik Lehmann Andersen, Director of the Nordea Foundation, that supports good living.

Collaboration with ARoS, Aarhus 2017 and Aarhus University
In relation to the long-term ambitions for 2017, when Aarhus becomes the European Capital of Culture, some elements of the project will be developed in cooperation with other partners including ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Fonden Aarhus 2017, and Aarhus University (PIT - Participatory IT Research Centre). The latter collaboration aims to develop participatory, interactive and social aspects of new projects based on critical use of social technologies.

Read more about that project here.

The project includes two main elements: a series of new artworks developed specifically for urban context, and other projects that include audiences both physically and online through social media.

An example of a new project is ‘Shaped Canvas Track’ – a temporary running track that will lead the audience from the street and into Kunsthal Aarhus’ new entrance.

The project was selected from an Open Call in the summer of 2013. The artist/designer duo Linda Beumer and Jeroen Bouweriks from Amsterdam won the competition with their proposition, which is inspired by the American minimalist icon, Frank Stella and Danish long-distance runner, Wilson Kipketer. The proposition is a hybrid-form that combines sports, landscape architecture, design and art.

Contact info:
Kunsthal Aarhus: Andreo Michaelo Mielczarek, communications@kunsthal.dk, 4033 0517
Nordea-fonden: Director of Communication, Tine Wickers, 4070 3784