Offers of museums for refugees
Free admission, guided tours, support opportunities
More than a year has passed since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine, which violated international law. Since then, more than one million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Germany - many of them also in Berlin. The solidarity with the people in Ukraine is great and does not stop at cultural workers, artists, museums and many other cultural institutions.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) Germany just banned the Russian National Committee and thus clearly takes a stand. "It can no longer be accepted that in the museum sector it is pretended that there is no war, as if ICOM Russia could act as if nothing had happened," let the board of ICOM Germany announce in a press release after its meeting on February 8, 2023.
In addition to the demands on the institutional level, many museums are also committed to the refugees in Berlin and offer various, mostly free offers. With digital guides, guided tours and museum meetings, especially the arrival of children and young people should be facilitated and carefree hours prepared for them.
In this article you will find an overview of current programs and activities.
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) or proof of arrival 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
- Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin
- Bröhan-Museum
- Deutsche Kinemathek
- German Historical Museum
- German Museum of Technology and Science Center Spectrum
- Haus am Waldsee
- Huguenot Museum
- Humboldt Forum
- Jewish Museum Berlin
- Kunsthaus Dahlem
- Labyrinth Children's Museum
- Liebermann Villa at the Wannsee
- Museum Barberini
- Museum of Communication
- Museum of Natural History
- Samurai Museum Berlin
- Palaces of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation
- Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
- Stadtmuseum Berlin
- Temple of Pomona at Pfingstberg
Workshops, guided tours and other offers
For more than a year, numerous museums in Berlin have been inviting refugees from Ukraine to get to know their collections by offering a variety of free educational programs. The offer includes audio guides for exhibitions, thematic tours and workshops for welcome classes, regular museum meetings for children and young people, and more.
The offers in detail:
- Bezirksmuseum Marzahn-Hellersdorf - Hometown. Everyday. Language. A museum educational offer for welcome classes
- Haus Bastian – Centre for Cultural Education - Welcome! Museum Club at Haus Bastian
- Charlottenburg Palace - App "Charlottenburg SPSG"
- Jewish Museum Berlin - Guided Tours and Workshops
- Museum Barberini - Museum Meetup for Ukrainian Refugees
- 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
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 Advice Center Kreativ Kultur Berlin regularly offers workshops and consultation hours for creative people.
Important general information for refugees from Ukraine can be found here.