Kunsthal Aarhus is a contemporary art centre located at the centre of the city of Aarhus, Denmark. The institution initiates, commissions, produces and presents art at an international level to local, regional, and international audiences. Kunsthal Aarhus creates art in a broad context, connected to other fields of human activity, other disciplines, and to a wider society as part of a sustainable approach.

It provides a research based participatory, collaborative and transdisciplinary platform for artistic experimentation and critical engagement. Kunsthal Aarhus strives to be an inclusive, transparent, dynamic and flexible institution that fosters the culture of appreciation and values diversity of contributions.

History

Kunsthal Aarhus was founded in 1917 at the initiative of the board for Aarhus Kunstforening (Aarhus Art Association, today KA Friends). Kunsthal Aarhus is one of the oldest art centers in Denmark and in Europe.

The exhibition venue was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the public due to its key mission of ‘inspiring and promoting general knowledge of the fine arts’. Since its first days, Kunsthal Aarhus has played a vital part in regards to developing and presenting international and contemporary art in Denmark.

The institution is originally designed by Architect Høeg-Hansen and has been through a process of architectonic development, most notably by architects at C.F. Møller, in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Thereby, the building now houses more than 1000 square meters of exhibition space.

In 2012, the institution changed name to Kunsthal Aarhus, previously it was named Århus Kunstbygning, as part of a process of recombining the history of the institution with its future vision.

In 2017, Kunsthal Aarhus opened Kunsthal Aarhus Sculpture Park with artworks by Danish and international artists.