Berlin Museums Appoint New Directors Amid Leadership Shifts and Budget Challenges
Leadership transitions are taking place at Berlin's prominent museums. Klaus Biesenbach is set to depart from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles to assume leadership of the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Museum of the 20th Century. His resignation from MOCA comes merely a week after he was appointed artistic director, prompting two unnamed trustees to voice feelings of 'betrayal.' The museum is currently grappling with financial challenges and issues related to diversity. Meanwhile, Biesenbach's upcoming project has seen its budget soar from €200 million to €450 million, with a planned opening in 2026. Starting January 2024, Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath will jointly direct Hamburger Bahnhof, having previously led the Montblanc Cultural Foundation and curated numerous international exhibitions.
Key facts
- Klaus Biesenbach leaves MOCA Los Angeles to lead Neue Nationalgalerie and Museum of the 20th Century in Berlin
- Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath appointed joint directors of Hamburger Bahnhof starting January next year
- MOCA trustees felt 'betrayed' by Biesenbach's departure after creating dual leadership role with Johanna Burton
- Museum of the 20th Century budget increased from €200 million to €450 million, designed by Herzog & de Meuron for 2026 opening
- Bardaouil and Fellrath co-founded artReoriented in 2009, chaired Montblanc Cultural Foundation Hamburg 2016-2020
- Bardaouil holds MFA and PhD; Fellrath has two Master's degrees in economics and political science
- Duo curated Lebanon pavilion at 2013 Venice Biennale and UAE pavilion in 2019
- In 2022, they will curate Lyon Biennale and French pavilion at Venice Biennale with Yasmina Reggad
Entities
Artists
- Klaus Biesenbach
- Sam Bardaouil
- Till Fellrath
- Johanna Burton
- Yasmina Reggad
Institutions
- Neue Nationalgalerie
- Museum of the 20th Century
- Hamburger Bahnhof
- Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles
- MOCA
- artReoriented
- Montblanc Cultural Foundation
- Tisch School of the Arts
- NYU
- Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts
- Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg
- Biennale of Sydney
- 21,39 Jeddah Arts
- Venice Biennale
- Lyon Biennale
- The New York Times
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Los Angeles
- United States
- New York
- London
- United Kingdom
- Hamburg
- Shanghai
- China
- Nuremberg
- Sydney
- Australia
- Jeddah
- Saudi Arabia
- Venice
- Italy
- Lebanon
- United Arab Emirates
- Lyon
- France