Offers of museums for refugees
Free admission, guided tours, support opportunities
In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, many cultural institutions in Berlin have been flying the colors blue and yellow since February 24. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) Germany also condemns the war against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms and appeals to the willingness of all those with political responsibility to engage in dialogue. President Beate Reifenscheid emphasized: "Now more than ever, our solidarity goes out to our Ukrainian colleagues, to the artists, to those who are working for culture and education, for democracy and freedom." And she referred to the threat of widespread destruction of unique art treasures in Ukraine.
Here we summarize what Berlin museums are offering for people who have fled.
Photo: The Alte Nationalgalerie on March 5, 2022 with the ukrainian Flag. © Museumsportal Berlin.
Free admission
For free admission to the Berlin museums listed below, it is usually sufficient to present a Ukrainian passport or other identification document, for example, a residence permit from Ukraine or a valid student ID from a Ukrainian university. For refugees from Ukraine to Germany from third countries, a Ukrainian residence permit (visa) is accepted.
Apart from that, Berlin's district museums and other museums (almost 70 in total) are free of charge. On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free to over 60 Berlin museums as part of Museum Sunday.
In these museums, admission is free for refugees:
- Anne Frank Zentrum
- Berlinische Galerie
- Bröhan-Museum
- Deutsche Kinemathek
- German Historical Museum
- German Spy Museum (select "Lichtblick" ticket in online store)
- German Museum of Technology and Science Center Spectrum
- Haus am Waldsee
- Humboldt Forum (Permanent Exhibitions and Berlin Global)
- Kunsthaus Dahlem
- Labyrinth Children's Museum
- Liebermann Villa at the Wannsee
- MACHmit! Museum
- Museum of Communication
- Museum of Natural History
- Palaces of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation
- Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
- Stadtmuseum Berlin
Workshops, guided tours and other offers
Numerous museums in Berlin are now inviting refugees from Ukraine to get to know their collections through a variety of free educational programs. Exhibition talks lead adults to the highlights of the collections. Children and families explore the museums in workshops. Some museums invite welcome classes and groups of refugees to free workshops. In other museums, free guided tours in Ukrainian are currently in preparation.
The offers in detail:
- Berlinische Galerie - Guided tours
- Bezirksmuseum Marzahn-Hellersdorf - Hometown. Everyday. Language. A museum educational offer for welcome classes
- Humboldt Forum - Program for refugees
- Jewish Museum Berlin - Discussion Series "Ukraine in Context"
- Museum of Communication - free workshops for refugees and welcome classes
- Notaufnahmelager Marienfelde - Online exhibition "Arriving. Life after forced Migration"
- Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Workshops and guided tours for refugees from Ukraine
- Sanssouci Palace - audio guide in Ukrainian language
- Stadtmuseum Berlin - guided tours and special program for refugees from Ukraine
Support opportunities for cultural workers in museums
The Academy of Arts maintains a list of support opportunities for artists and cultural workers.
The private Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation provides 2.5 million euros to employ Ukrainian restorers in German museums. The museums must submit applications for this funding. The Bode Museum is one of the museums receiving funding.
The Advice Center KreativKultur Berlin regularly offers workshops and consultation hours for creative people.
Ukrainian Cultural Community (formerly known as Art Shelter) is a place for Ukrainian creatives to live, work and show their art in a safe space away from war in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
Important general information for refugees from Ukraine can be found here.