Under the Patronage of the Federal President
FREIRAUM KUNST
Akademie der Künste Goes Bellevue
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opens Schloss Bellevue before its renovation for a special art exhibition
From 13‒28 June 2026, the Akademie der Künste is realising a two-week pop-up gallery at Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace) and is converting the official seat of the Federal President into a temporary venue for the arts.
As the seat of the head of state, Schloss Bellevue is a symbol of our liberal democracy – and consequently not a neutral exhibition space. The artworks are deliberately placed in a dynamic relationship with the location, which stands for liberal, democratic representation and political symbolism.
This unique exhibition has been made possible because Schloss Bellevue must be emptied before its renovation, and the Federal President is making the temporarily vacant rooms available for art. The building itself serves as an exhibit. In its vacant condition, it appears as a historical and political space. The artistic contributions respond to this context. They can take issue with it, shift its meaning and/or open up new interpretations.
The following Akademie der Künste members, among others, are participating in the exhibition: Peter Badel, Rosa Barba, Carola Bauckholt, Alexandra Bircken, Jürgen Böttcher, Monica Bonvicini, Ann Cotten, Ayşe Erkmen, Jochen Gerz, Katharina Grosse, Hanna Hartman, Bjørn Melhus, Boris Mikhailov, Karin Sander, Matthias Sauerbruch, Hanns Schimansky, Gregor Schneider, Chiyoko Szlavnics, Wolfgang Tillmans and Manos Tsangaris. Moreover, the project’s initiators ‒ Christian Awe, El Bocho and Christopher Lehmpfuhl ‒ are also involved.
Anh-Linh Ngo, vice-president of the Akademie der Künste, and Cécile Wajsbrot, deputy director of the Literature Section, are the curators responsible for the entire presentation. The “Büro der öffentlichen Sache” (Public Affairs Office), curated by Akademie President Manos Tsangaris, is an artistic and discursive space that sees itself as an open forum where artistic perspectives can break down social polarisation.
Additional information about the programme and the participating artists will be published at a later date.
About Schloss Bellevue
Schloss Bellevue has been the official principal residence of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany since 1994. The structure, built in the neoclassical style in 1786 in Berlin-Tiergarten, is one of the city’s oldest surviving palaces. The building will remain closed in its entirety for extensive refurbishment, which begins in summer 2026.
About the Akademie der Künste
The Akademie der Künste was founded in 1696 and is celebrating its 330th anniversary in 2026. As an international community of some 400 artists from the fields of the visual arts, architecture, music, literature, performing arts and film and media arts, it envisions itself as a place where artistic freedom and social debate can thrive.
Supporters and sponsors of FREIRAUM KUNST thus far
Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, Bertelsmann, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, DECKER ART FOUNDATION, Stiftung Kunstforum Berliner Volksbank
Event Information
Under the Patronage of the Federal President
FREIRAUM KUNST
Akademie der Künste Goes Bellevue
Exhibition and event programme at the palace
13–28 June 2026
Mon–Fri 11 am – 7 pm, Sat, Sun 10 am – 7 pm
Spreeweg 1, 10557 Berlin-Tiergarten
Free admission with a timed ticket: available online starting 18 May 2026
Press Contact
Anette Schmitt, head of the Press and Public Relations, Akademie der Künste, schmitt@adk.de, presse@adk.de, Tel. +49 (0)30 / 20057-1509, -1514, -1531
Stefan Hirtz, ARTEFAKT Kulturkonzepte, stefan.hirtz@artefakt-berlin.de, Tel. +49 (0)30 / 44010686