Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin's pioneering contemporary art museum, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Co-directors Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, who arrived in 2022, are using the milestone to reflect on the institution's legacy and future direction, emphasizing its role as a site of artistic production and experimentation. They are also organizing an international fundraising gala on March 14 to help shape its next chapter.
The anniversary marks a generational moment for an institution born from the merger of East and West German national galleries after reunification. Bardaouil and Fellrath argue that contemporary art museums must actively shape the canon, not just interpret it, and serve as vital public spaces for difficult conversations in a politically charged era. Their vision positions the museum as a fluid, artist-informed institution that must adapt its structures and funding models to remain relevant for the next 30 years.