Karlsruhe Castle: Art and Culture in New Gloss from 2026!

Karlsruhe Castle: Art and Culture in New Gloss from 2026!

Baden-Baden, Deutschland - The Baden State Museum in Karlsruhe is planning, during the upcoming renovation of the Karlsruhe Castle, innovative formats to expand its target groups. Museum chief Eckart Köhne emphasizes the importance of also addressing people who normally do not go to the museum. His goal is to promote the combination of art and cultural -historical aspects to open up new groups of visitors. The renovation of the castle, which is to begin in autumn, will take several years and aim to renew the lock with a baroque external and a modern internal.

In addition, it will be sought from May 2026 to link works of the State Museum with contemporary art in the State Kunsthalle Baden-Baden . This exhibition will illuminate thematic connections, for example between the state and the citizen in the context of the Democracy debate. A cooperation with the neighboring Museum Frieder Burda is also planned for thematic presentations. It is worth noting that the Kunsthalle does not have its own collection and is used interim for the State Museum.

The role of the State Kunsthalle

The State Kunsthalle Baden-Baden is one of the oldest and most internationally renowned exhibition facilities in the region in 1909 as an exhibition hall of the Freie Künstlervereinigung Baden e.V. She has committed herself to deal with international contemporary art and plays a central role in the cultural landscape. A climate management strategy is also pursued under the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of Baden-Württemberg in order to meet the challenges of progressive climate change. Sustainability is a central concern of the institution in order to remain sustainable.

The museum director Köhne, on the other hand, emphasizes the independence of the two institutions, despite the close cooperation. There are currently job advertisements for an employee in the direct hall and administration of the Kunsthalle.

visitor perspective and challenges

The perception of museums from the perspective of the visitor is another topic that influences the future museum offer. A Europe -wide study that examined a total of 103 museums in seven countries shows interesting data about the visitor motifs. The main motifs for visiting the museum are: to visit the collection (51%), shared experiences (46%) and curiosity as well as the desire to learn (43%).

Although museums are perceived as inviting places, the results also show that around 52% of the population, influenced by a cocooning effect, prefers to stay at home. Accessibility and communication represent challenges for many visitors. However, the satisfaction of the respondents is high overall, with 92% satisfaction with regard to visits and the offers there. From this it can be derived that museums, in order to remain relevant, should offer more interactive and immersive experiences.