Excellent Research on Excellent Art - Framework for documenta Institute Staked Out

Later admission to Leibniz Association

The aim is to establish a research institute that meets the requirements for later admission to the Leibniz Association. In the coming year, an interim scientific director will initially be appointed, and in parallel, the scientific director will be advertised in a joint appointment with the University of Kassel. Initially, the institute will be established under the umbrella of documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH; in the medium term, it will continue as an independent institution.

Strengthening outstanding research

Science andArt Minister Angela Dorn explains: "With documenta, Kassel is a world-renowned location for outstanding contemporary art. We now want to work together to strengthen outstanding research on this and establish a non-university research institute that also places a strong emphasis on communicating scientific findings. The documenta inspires everyone who is interested in art. We want to take advantage of the opportunity to bring together art and culture, science and research, and also education in one place. This is only possible thanks to the great commitment of those involved, whom I would like to thank for their work to date and the constructive discussions."

Another step toward the institute

Professor Dr. Reiner Finkeldey, President of the University of Kassel: "I am very pleased that with this concept we have come a big step closer to our common goal of establishing a documenta Institute as a non-university scientific institution. Our many years of experience with interdisciplinary research make the University of Kassel the ideal partner for this ambitious interdisciplinary project. The documenta Institute will strengthen Kassel's international visibility as an art and university city in equal measure."

documenta shapes Kassel

Christian Geselle, Mayor of Kassel: "With the Institute, we want to make documenta tangible for everyone, even in the years between exhibitions, and create a special place for encounters and exchange. That's why, in addition to research, the city of Kassel is particularly concerned with mediation. The documenta is not only image-building for our city, because the cultural world public looks to Kassel every five years. The world's most important exhibition of contemporary art has had and continues to have a formative effect on our city, the art world and society."

Unique archive of files

Dr. Sabine Schormann, General Director of documenta and Museum Fridericianum gGmbH: "The documenta archive houses a unique file archive with the written material of past documenta exhibitions, a top-class special library as well as extensive press, image and audiovisual media collections. Opening this up and making it accessible internationally and transdisciplinarily for research and the general public reflects documenta's role as the world's most influential exhibition of contemporary art. We are already very excited to see what research questions will be posed here about documenta history, contemporary art, and exhibition practice and mediation."

Six million from the state for construction

The state of Hesse is funding the construction of the institute with six million euros and will provide additional funds for research and basic equipment as well as for the management of the documenta institute from 2020. The basis is the existing documenta archiv, to which the state of Hesse has already contributed 500,000 euros annually since 2016. In the documenta archiv, staff collect and archive the documents that were created during the documenta exhibitions. In addition, there is a library collection as well as documents, items and objects related to documenta.

Professorship at the University of Kassel

With support from the state of Hesse, the University of Kassel has already filled one professorship, which has been held by Prof. Dr. Nora Sternfeld since the beginning of 2018. Three additional professorships will be established in the departments of Humanities and Cultural Studies, Architecture, and Social Sciences, each with a secondary membership in the School of Art. Appointment procedures are underway and are expected to be completed in the first half of 2020. The state of Hesse is funding each of these professorships with 120,000 euros annually.