Zukunft KMB

Under the title ‘Zukunft KMB’ – KMB of the Future –a new chapter in public discourse began on Hodlerstrasse in 2019. For a convincing solution for the future one must expand their think zone. The different ownership and usage conditions, competencies and public interests can only be reconciled in open dialogue. The umbrella foundation is therefore holding talks with all cantonal and municipal authorities, administrations, partners, associated foundations, sponsoring associations, Bern cultural organisations, natural and historic heritage conservation organisations, as well as architectural and business associations.

The umbrella foundation’s strategy provides the framework for this exchange: ‘Bern is one of Switzerland’s leading national and international art showcases. The close collaboration between the Kunstmuseum Bern and the Zentrum Paul Klee offers a unique and holistic art and cultural experience. The building on Hodlerstrasse and the Monument im Fruchtland are complementary starting points for encounters and confrontations, inspiration, discourse and knowledge, where visitors gain a new and novel experience of art on site or in virtual space.’
To exploit this chance for the Kunstmuseum Bern’s future to its fullest, the museum not only launched the initialisation phase lasting until summer 2019 but at the same time sought a public dialogue with the interest groups and the museum audience. In May and June 2019, public panel events on the topics of ‘Contemporary art at the Kunstmuseum Bern?’, ‘Hodlerstrasse art mile’ and ‘The Kunstmuseum of the future’ took place. A series of workshops was organised as well, accompanied by innovative questioning methods on the part of the public, employees and experts. The results are compiled in a project dossier with three concepts for solutions, serving as a basis for decisions on funding and the architecture competition.

There are many and very different questions to be asked, and the answers can only be found in a dialogue between all those involved

• How can the museum better utilise its special location on the slopes of the Aare river and offer its visitors a view of and access to the fantastic nature park? 
• How can the Kunstmuseum Bern become a ‘green museum’?
• How can provenance research be a visible part of the museum's operations?
•      What kind of spaces are needed for art education and learning in the future?
•      Can the police office building at number six Hodlerstrasse be incorporated in the plans?
•      How can Hodlerstrasse offer better quality as a place to visit by changing the traffic system and become an art mile in the neighbourhood of PROGR and Waisenhausplatz?
•      How can the ‘Hodlerstrasse Art Mile’ emanate the feeling of a new museum triangle together with the Zentrum Paul Klee and the planned Museum Quarter in the Kirchenfeld district?