Cubus Kunsthalle

Description

In Duisburg, the cubus kunsthalle presents a permanent programme of contemporary art as a privately run exhibition hall. The institution is located in the Immanuel-Kant-Park and occupies the building complex of the former Niederrheinisches Museum.

In the early 1980s, an art historian from Duisburg took the building over from the city for a nominal rent on the condition that she renovate and maintain it. A limited partnership was established for financial security; it is the operator today and rents out individual parts of the building, with the rental income covering maintenance and operating costs. After the Niederrheinisches Museum moved to a new building in 1991 and a city-planned demolition threatened in connection with the expansion of the Lehmbruck Museum, cubus kunsthalle secured a cost-neutral continuation of operations for the benefit of the city through permitted subletting and thus preserved the building. In 1994 a lease agreement was concluded with the city. To carry out the extensive renovation, a GmbH & Co. KG was later formed; contributions from around 40 limited partners and services provided by local companies made the renovation possible, and the hall reopened in 1995. In 1996 the Verein zur Förderung von Kunst und Kultur in der cubus kunsthalle e. V. was established as a supporting organisation.

The programme includes regularly changing exhibitions of contemporary art and an annual winter art market for artists from Duisburg and the surrounding region. The presentations are largely free of charge and sometimes run concurrently in different rooms. The building is organised into several sections: the main room is located in the basement; adjacent to it are cabinet rooms, a garage and a workshop studio (workspace). In the outdoor area a natural garden with art objects and a beehive contributes to the setting. On the upper floor there is an art hall with a view over Immanuel-Kant-Park, which is used for cultural programmes as well as commercial and private events. Concerts, cabaret and dance evenings, and readings are part of the regular programme. Funding is provided exclusively by sponsors and patrons, without public funds. In addition, cubus kunsthalle collaborates with the City of Duisburg as part of the Duisburger Akzente and regularly makes its first-floor hall available to the Duisburger Spielkorb for children's theatre.