Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum

About the museum

The museum opened in 1976 and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. The collection is based on a donation from the painter Carl-Henning Pedersen (1913–2008), who laid the foundation with his own work and that of his wife Else Alfelt (1910–1974); today the holdings comprise more than 4,000 works by the two artists, who belonged to the circle of the CoBrA movement.

The building was designed by the architecture firm C. F. Møller based on ideas by the landscape architect C. Th. Sørensen, who also designed the geometric gardens in the Birk district. Its characteristic feature is the round structure, encircled on the outside by an approximately 90-meter-long ceramic frieze by Carl-Henning Pedersen. In 1992–93 a three-sided, prism-shaped extension was added, whose exterior walls are partly glazed and partly clad in blue tiles painted by Pedersen.

The museum is located in the Birk Centerpark art, education, and business district, which developed from the 1960s around the Angli shirt factory of Aage Damgaard, right next to the HEART art museum and the sculpture "Elia" by Ingvar Cronhammar. In addition to works from its own collection, the museum shows changing exhibitions, often related to CoBrA and to the art history of Angli.

Highlights

• Approximately 90-meter-long ceramic frieze by Carl-Henning Pedersen on the facade
• More than 4,000 works by Carl-Henning Pedersen and Else Alfelt
• Prism hall with hand-painted blue tiles
• Location in the Birk art district with HEART, Elia, and the Geometric Gardens
• Free admission under 18

Founded

1976

Director

Lotte Korshøj

Admission & discounts

Annual pass holders (Klub Cobra) and one companion have free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Step-free access via a ramp over the moat, elevators in the building. Accessible restrooms at the main entrance and in the underground hall "Kuben". Benches in the exhibitions, lightweight folding chairs at the reception desk. Only guide dogs and assistance dogs allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Children and young people under 18 free. Dedicated educational programs for daycare centers and schools. Strollers are allowed; baby changing table in the "Kuben" hall.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in Birk Centerpark next to HEART on the eastern edge of Herning.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Aages Corner in the Angligården; museum shop on site and as a web shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit