Future of museums: International symposium in Berlin begins!

Future of museums: International symposium in Berlin begins!

A very special event will kick off in Berlin on August 29, 2025. The Berlin Art Week is just around the corner, and with it the international symposium “Shaping the Future of Cultural Spaces and Museums Today”. Over the period from September 10th to 14th, the Hamburger Bahnhof - National Gallery of the Present will be the meeting point for museum people from cities such as Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Warsaw.

But that's not all: Friday, September 12th, is the highlight of the week. On this day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be an intensive discussion about the challenges of museums and their role as social spaces. It's about how contemporary museums develop and what social networks they strive for.

Insights and discussions

Part of the symposium is a varied program that includes interesting lectures. In the morning, the topic of “Decentering” is on the agenda, presented by Anna Gritz from Haus am Waldsee and Rebecca Matthews from Aros Aarhus. After the lunch break it's all about “Youth Engagement” with speakers like Marie Nipper from Arken and Jenny Schlenzka from Gropius Bau.

In the afternoon, further sessions will discuss how our society is changing and what innovations are necessary in the institutional models. Experienced speakers are invited to speak on the topics “Changing Societies” and “Innovation in Institutional Models”, including Catherine Wood from Tate Modern and Marion Ackermann from the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The whole thing is moderated by Elke Buhr from Monopol and other art critics.

Extended opening hours at Hamburger Bahnhof

In addition to the exciting conference, visitors can look forward to extended opening hours at Hamburger Bahnhof from September 11th to 14th, 2025. All exhibitions are accessible until 10 p.m. every day on these days. These special opening times offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the diverse collections and exhibitions in peace and quiet.

The event is in English, which further promotes international exchange. Berlin Art Week's project partners are Hamburger Bahnhof and the two concepts by Mathilda Legemah, Till Fellrath and Mona Stehle.

Next Friday, September 12th, the discussion will open - and with a very clear goal: to shape the future of museums together. Anyone who is interested in contemporary art or just wants to hear exciting new approaches to museum work should put this date in their calendar. The Berlin Art Week will definitely be a complete success!