Modernism meets Avantgarde

International Centre of Art on the Rhine

Cologne is one of the top addresses for artists and art-lovers from all over the world. The outstanding and worldwide important collections of the major museums make this city on the Rhine an artistic capital. Every day the numerous galleries, the international art fairs and the lively artist scene profoundly influence the cultural life of the city. Festivals, artists’ studios, exhibitions and shopping venues propel art, photography and design into every quarter. The mix of modern architecture and historic buildings make Cologne a vibrant place which is constantly re-inventing itself.

 
 

Museum Ludwig

The most extensive Pop Art collection in Europe. The third biggest Picasso collection in the world. One of the best collections of German Expressionism. One of the internationally most important collections on photography. In this museum one superlative follows the other. A generous donation of 350 works of modern art by Peter and Irene Ludwig to the city of Cologne formed the basis for the foundation of the museum in 1976. Since then the museum which bears the name of its founders, has constantly extended its collections and today has one of the most important collections of art from the 20th and 21st centuries worldwide. A tour of the museum will introduce you to important names from the last 100 years, will highlight major artistic positions, will present beautiful and also provocative works which have made history and will continue to do so.

 

Address

Heinrich-Böll-Platz
50667 Köln
T +49 221 221 26165
F +49 221 221 24114
info@museum-ludwig.de

www.museum-ludwig.de

information & events

Opening hours

Dienstag bis Sonntag, Feiertage 10 - 18 Uhr
Jeden ersten Donnerstag im Monat 10 - 22 Uhr
Montag geschlossen

an Feiertagen (auch montags!) geöffnet wie sonntags:
Karfreitag, Ostermontag, 1. Mai, Christi Himmelfahrt, Fronleichnam, Pfingstmontag, Tag der Deutschen Einheit (3. Okt.), Allerheiligen, 2. Weihnachtstag von 10 bis 18 Uhr geöffnet.

montags geschlossen
sowie an Heiligabend, 1. Weihnachtstag, Silvester und Neujahr.

 

Private group tours

Highlights – overview of the museum

A short who’s who of contemporary art

Expressionism – the liberation of colour

Picasso – exploring the work of a genius

Shrill, popular and subversive: Pop Art

 

Museum of Applied Arts

The design department of the MAKK has a Europe-wide reputation – this is the only place you will find a dialogue between art and design within the permanent collection! The variety of objects, styles, materials and themes is reflected in exhibitions and events. For instance Drive-it Day, Hotspot and Open-Air-Exhibition for connoisseurs of automobile design from all over Germany. As a museum of design and art the museum profoundly influences Cologne as a design location. The Museum of Applied Arts is an ambassador for design.

 

Address

An der Rechtschule
50667 Köln
T +49 221 221 23860
F +49 221 221 23885
makk@stadt-koeln.de

www.makk.de

information & events

Opening hours

Dienstag bis Sonntag 10 - 18 Uhr 
jeden ersten Donnerstag im Monat 10 - 22 Uhr
Montag geschlossen.

an Feiertagen (auch montags!) geöffnet wie sonntags:
Karfreitag, Ostermontag, 1. Mai, Christi Himmelfahrt, Fronleichnam, Pfingstmontag, Tag der Deutschen Einheit (3. Okt.), Allerheiligen, 2. Weihnachtstag.

montags geschlossen
sowie an Heiligabend, 1. Weihnachtstag, Silvester und Neujahr.

Die Design-Abteilung ist in neuer Konzeption zu besichtigen!

Die Historischen Sammlungen bleiben wegen Sanierungsarbeiten und Neukonzeption geschlossen.

 

Private group tours

MAKK kompakt – a museum worth getting to know

Design is a must.

Celebrating feasts and hard drinking?!

Beautiful interiors

Typically female, typically male

 

Käthe Kollwitz Museum Köln

The museum founded in 1985 by the Kreissparkasse Köln houses the worldwide biggest collection of works by this important German artist. Apart from her complete sculptural work it has more than 300 drawings, 600 prints – among them the graphic cycles and extremely rare proofs – and all her posters. War, poverty and death but also love, security and the struggle for peace are the themes expressed by Käthe Kollwitz with great urgency in her works. On 1,000 squaremeters' exhibition space the collection displayed provides new insights into her life and work. In addition, fascinating special exhibitions and a varied accompanying programme await the visitor.

 

Address

Neumarkt 18-24 / Neumarkt Passage
50667 Köln
T +49 221 227 2899/-2602
F +49 221 227 3762
museum@kollwitz.de

www.kollwitz.de

information & events

Opening hours

Das Käthe Kollwitz Museum soll grüner werden!
Wegen der dazu notwendigen energetischen Baumaßnahmen bleiben die Ausstellungsräume vorübergehend geschlossen.

 

Guided Group tours

Private guided tours through the collection or special exhibition should be arranged with the museum two weeks in advance.

 

Skulpturenpark Köln

The park, which extends over 40,000 squaremeters within the city centre, is an oasis of calm and contemplation, a place where you can directly experience contemporary sculpture. The sculpture park is situated in the northern part of the old town on the banks of the Rhine not far from the Zoobrücke. This unique open-air museum was founded in 1997 on the private initiative of the collector couple Michael and Eleonore Stoffel. The park presents modern contemporary outdoor sculpture in hanging exhibitions. You stroll between works by internationally renowned artists from Anish Kapoor to Heimo Zobernig. Entrance to the sculpture park is on Riehler Straße.

 

Address

Elsa-Brändström-Str. 9
50668 Köln
T +49 221 3366 88-60
F +49 221 3366 88-69
info@skulpturenparkkoeln.de

Besuchereingang: 
Riehler Straße 

www.skulpturenparkkoeln.de

information & events

Opening hours

April - Sept. tägl. 10.30 - 19 Uhr
Okt. - März  tägl. 10.30 - 17 Uhr

 

Guided Group tours

First Sun in the month at 3 pm public guided tour. Enquiries about private guided tours should be addressed to Stiftung Skulpturenpark Köln.

Free admission

 

SK Stiftung Kultur – Photographic Collection

he August Sander Archive which was acquired in 1992 provided the impulse for the founding of the institution and determines the direction of its activities. With regard to Sander’s objective and concept-oriented photography the collection was expanded to include works in keeping with his approach by other historically important and contemporary artists such as Bernd and Hilla Becher, Karl Blossfeldt, Jim Dine and Candida Höfer. High quality photographic exhibitions are presented in the premises of the foundation which correspond to museum standards. The SK Stiftung is one of the most exciting venues in the Cologne photo scene.

 

Address

Im Mediapark 7
50670 Köln
T +49 221 88895 300
photographie@sk-kultur.de

www.photographie-sk-kultur.de

information & events

Opening hours

Während der Laufzeit der Wechselausstellungen täglich 14-19 Uhr ´

Mittwoch geschlossen

 

Gruppenführungen

Private guided tours of current exhibitions and exclusive presentations of specific works can be booked on www.photographie-sk-kultur.de

 

SK Stiftung Kultur – Dance Museum

Since it was re-designed both architecturally and conceptually in the year 2008 the Tanzmuseum is more than ever a place of special encounter with dance art. Annually changing thematic exhibitions are presented which are intended to provide users with information about dance above and beyond the everyday. Changing exhibitions encourage visitors to explore anew and in different ways the sources of the fascination exerted by dance art, how the present and past in dance mutually enliven each other and how the one is interwoven with the other.

 
 

Address

Im Mediapark 7
50670 Köln
T +49 221 88895 444
tanzarchiv@sk-kultur.de

www.deutsches-tanzarchiv.de

information & events

Opening hours

Während der Laufzeit der Wechselausstellungen täglich 14 - 19 Uhr
Mittwoch geschlossen

 

Guided Group tours

Private guided tours should be booked two weeks in advance at the Tanzmuseum.

 

Tips on the Theme

Kölnischer Kunstverein

The Kölnischer Kunstverein has been presenting contemporary art of the day since 1839. Many of the artists exhibited at an early stage – for example, Hans Arp (1919) or Paul Klee (1932) – have become established masters in the history of art. Exhibitions such as “Happening und Fluxus” (1970) wrote exhibition history. In recent times the Kölnischer Kunstverein has again and again shown outstanding artists together with promising talented painters in a fascinating mix. Thus for almost 180 years the Kunstverein has made a unique contribution to the question: what is new art?

Info / Tickets / Events: www.koelnischerkunstverein.net

 

Guided Tours of Architectural Highlights in Cologne

Cologne boasts many examples of outstanding architecture which our expert guides will be delighted to introduce you to. ArchiPedes are guided walking tours exploring examples of excellent architecture. The ArchiTaxi gives you the opportunity to experience modern architecture in a small group. The exclusive ArchiHeli is a perfect venue for airborne discussions on the city’s architecture, while the charming ArchiBoat provides new perspectives and views of Cologne from the Rhine.

Info / Tickets / Guided Tours: www.archipedes-koeln.de 

 

Contemporary Art

Cologne is an important art centre with a stunning number of contemporary art galleries, studios and other exciting venues where art is created. The city’s art scene gives you the opportunity to get to know more about art on a daily basis. Catch up on the various different options by contacting the artists.

Info / Events / Addresses:

www.kunstwerk-koeln.de
www.offene-ateliers-koeln.de
www.koelner-galerien.de

 
 
 

Suggested Programme "Exploring Modern Art"

 

Day 1: International City of Art on the Rhine

A city tour of the most important highlights of modern architecture attunes you to this art capital. After a short visit to Cologne Cathedral and its famous stained glass window by Gerhard Richter you continue on foot to Museum Ludwig. A tour by qualified guides introduces you to the highlights of the collection, from the Expressionists and Picasso to Warhol and present-day art. You may even find enough time for the special exhibition. After a “creative break” at the Museumscafé you could visit the Skulpturenpark Köln to the north of the city centre. Alternatively, you may opt for a quick detour to the Belgisches Viertel with its trendy shops, pubs and restaurants. Your choice depends on the weather. In the evening, you choose from the rich variety of current cultural events to enjoy a concert or a night at the theatre or opera.

 

Day 2: Design, Avantgarde and Tradition

After breakfast, you go the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Arts) to discover the history of design since 1900 on a tour by an experienced guide. The museum’s café in the inner courtyard is not to be missed on a sunny day. The afternoon is devoted to the contemporary gallery and design scene where you have the opportunity to explore the current artistic trends in Cologne.

 

Day 3: Cologne and Photography

The city is famous for its lively photography scene. The Photographische Sammlung (Photographic Collection) in the Mediapark always offers exciting exhibitions. If you are interested in dance, a quick detour to the Tanzmuseum (Dance Museum) in the same building is recommended. If you enjoy walking you could include the Gerlingviertel on your way back to the city centre. This district near the impressive church of St. Gereon is an architectural ensemble from the 1950s and has on several occasions served as a film set. Back in the centre, make sure to have a look at the modern stained glass windows by Markus Lüpertz in St. Andreas near the Cathedral.