The Weserburg is a modern art museum in Bremen, Germany. Opened in 1991, it is located on the Teerhof peninsula next to the

River Weser The Weser () is a river of Lower Saxony in north-west Germany. It begins at Hannoversch Münden through the confluence of the Werra and Fulda. It passes through the Hanseatic city of Bremen. Its mouth is further north against the ports of B ...

in an old factory building which was almost completely destroyed in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. Originally known as "New Museum Weserburg Bremen" (''Neues Museum Weserburg Bremen''), it was Europe's first "collectors' museum", in that it conserves no permanent collection but mounts changing exhibition of private collections. It is one of the largest modern art museum spaces in Germany.

History

In 1893, a cigarette factory was opened by Ad. Hagens & Co. on the Teerburg Peninsula in the middle of the Weser. Known as Hagensburg, the building's two

Neogothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

gate towers contrasted with the surrounding warehouses. After the Schilling Brothers (''Gebrüder Schilling'') acquired the building in 1923 for a coffee factory, the name was changed to Weserburg. Almost totally destroyed in the Second World War, the building was repaired and reopened in 1949. When the factory closed in 1973, the building was sold to the city. It was used for various cultural purposes including artists' ateliers and art exhibitions, until it was decided it should become a collectors' museum. In November 1988, the

Bürgerschaft of Bremen The Bremische Bürgerschaft (State Parliament of Bremen, literally “Bremish Citizenry” or “Citizenry of Bremen”) is the legislative branch of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen in Germany. The state parliament elects the mem ...

voted in favour of founding the New Museum Weserburg. The founding members were the City of Bremen, the Bremen Art Association and several collectors. The conversion of building was completed in 1991 under the supervision of architect Wolfram Dahms, providing of exhibition space. The New Museum Weserburg opened in September 1991 as the first instance of a collectors' museum in which all the artefacts were from private lenders. The director, Thomas Deecke (1991 - 2005), was instrumental in securing notable collections from Germany and abroad. In January 2007, the name was changed to Weserburg , Museum of Modern Art (''Weserburg , Museum für moderne Kunst'').

The museum

The museum has exhibited works from the most influential contemporary artists in its rather unusual premises. Exhibitions from European collectors large and small have provided insights into contemporary art. The interest of the collectors combines with the atmosphere of the museum to provide an integrated experience. In November 2013, there was a suggestion the museum could possibly be moved to the green area in the Cultural Mile (''Kulturmeile'') behind the

Wilhelm Wagenfeld House Wilhelm Wagenfeld House (german: Wilhelm-Wagenfeld-Haus) is a design museum and exhibition centre in Bremen, Germany. Completed in the Neoclassical style in 1828, the building now carries the name of Bremen-born Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900–1990), ...

which would bring it close to the

Kunsthalle A kunsthalle is a facility that mounts temporary art exhibitions, similar to an art gallery. It is distinct from an art museum by not having a permanent collection. In the German-speaking regions of Europe, ''Kunsthallen'' are often operated by ...

, facilitating cooperation between the two institutions. However, there are now plans (2014) to extend the museum which will remain permanently on the peninsula. Citing structural and conceptional differences in the approach between a traditional museum such as the

Kunsthalle Bremen The Kunsthalle Bremen is an art museum in Bremen, Germany. It is located close to the Bremen Old Town on the "Culture Mile" (german: Kulturmeile). The Kunsthalle was built in 1849, enlarged in 1902 by architect Eduard Gildemeister, and expanded ...

and the collectors' museum for which the Weserburg is a shining example the current director

Peter Friese Peter Friese (born 23 March 1952, Siemianowice Śląskie, Poland), is a German art historian and curator. Life and education Friese studied art history, archaeology and philosophy at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. His professional life ...

has strongly argued for a continued independence of the Weserburg Museum.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Museums in Bremen (city) Museums established in 1991 Modern art museums in Germany Tourist attractions in Bremen (state) 1991 establishments in Germany