REOPENING ON OCTOBER 25
The renovation of the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt will be successfully completed at the end of this week. All renovation measures could be implemented according to plan. They included the renewal of the air-conditioning technology, the parquet flooring in the exhibition rooms and the electrical wiring, as well as the installation of BOS radio amplifiers for the fire brigade under the parquet flooring. In a month's time, the Schirn will reopen in full with the major autumn exhibitions: first, on 25 October 2018, with the exhibition "King of the Animals. Wilhelm Kuhnert and the Image of Africa" and a week later, on November 1, 2018, with the comprehensive thematic exhibition "Wilderness". In the remaining weeks until the reopening, the air-conditioning system will be adjusted to the building control system and exhibition-related work will be carried out, such as the construction of the exhibition architectures, painting work and the installation of the exhibits. This was announced today at a joint press event by Peter Feldmann, the Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt, Dr. Ina Hartwig, the Head of the Department of Culture of the City of Frankfurt and the Director of the Schirn, Dr. Philipp Demandt.
"The Schirn is now well equipped technically for the coming years," says Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann. "It is fitting that it is now finished being renovated at the same time as the new Old Town. The fact that the major construction site outside the gates of the Kunsthalle has been completed means that it will be in the spotlight even more than before." The Lord Mayor expressed his delight that the Schirn has realized a varied mediation and accompanying program despite the closure in the summer. "It is particularly nice that the Minischirn has already been open again since August," Feldmann continued.
"The Schirn opened 32 years ago. Since then it has exerted a strong attraction on art lovers from all over the world. With over 200 highly acclaimed exhibitions and more than 8.8 million visitors, it has developed into a highly frequented exhibition venue of international standing. Of course, this has also left its mark on the building," says Dr. Ina Hartwig, Head of the Department of Culture. "The renovation, which was completed towards the end of this week, was urgently needed. In particular, the outdated air-conditioning technology had to be modernised in order to protect the exhibited works of art from climate damage. The fact that these and other renovation measures can be completed on schedule is thanks to the companies carrying out the work, the employees of the Schirn, and especially the site management in the Office of Building and Real Estate. They have all done a great job."
"A Schirn without exhibitions is no Schirn. With the exhibition on Neïl Beloufa and the popular Minischirn, we have already partially reopened the house at the end of August. I am all the more pleased that the Schirn will be fully open again for our visitors from 25 October with ‚King of the Animals' and shortly afterwards with the second major autumn exhibition ‚Wilderness'. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Frankfurt am Main, on behalf of all the decision-makers, the Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann and the Head of the Department of Culture Ina Hartwig, for their generous support and making the renovation possible, for the good cooperation and for the enormously rapid and professional implementation of all measures," concluded Dr. Philipp Demandt, Director of the Schirn.
From June to September 2018, the exhibition spaces (1,600 m²) at the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt were refurbished. In order to ensure a speedy implementation of these measures, a short-term total closure of the Schirn (including the Minischirn) was necessary from 1 June to 22 August 2018. The refurbishment cost 5 million euros and was managed by the client, the Cultural Office of the City of Frankfurt am Main. The Office for Construction and Real Estate of the City of Frankfurt am Main, external air-conditioning and electrical planners, and architects were project participants.
For more information on the Schirn's exhibition program in the fall, see <link http: www.schirn.de _blank>www.schirn.de
For the opening of the new Old Town from 28. to September 30, 2018, the Schirn is offering an extensive and free program, including workshops for children and families, the Minischirn, and the current exhibition "Neïl Beloufa. Global Agreement." All information on the Schirn program during the Altstadtfest at <link http: www.schirn.de _blank>www.schirn.de
