Esbjerg Kunstmuseum

About the museum

The Esbjerg Kunstmuseum dates back to 1910 and is closely tied to the Esbjerg Kunstforening, whose general assembly still elects most of the board today. In 1962 the museum moved into a new building in Byparken next to the water tower, the so-called Kunstpavillonen, designed by Jytte and Ove Tapdrup. The building uses the sloping terrain with levels at different heights and looks out over the harbor.

In 1997 the museum was connected to the newly built Musikhuset Esbjerg via a shared foyer and was extensively renovated in the process. Since then there have been the open storage rooms, where visitors can view all the paintings in the collection themselves using pull-out walls, the Aesthetics Lab at the interface of science and art, and a sculpture courtyard.

The collection spans art from about 1900 to today, with a focus on concrete and constructive art and on modernism in Denmark, such as Harald Giersing, Edvard Weie, Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Richard Mortensen, Robert Jacobsen, and the artist groups Linien and Linien II. The museum often acquires works shortly after they are made, including works by Svend Wiig Hansen, Olafur Eliasson, Tomás Saraceno, and Ann Lislegaard.

The museum gains a distinctive profile through its own research on how the public perceives art and through experimental education formats that appeal to all the senses – from a tactile course for children to projects with music and gastronomy.

Highlights

• Open storage with the entire painting collection to view yourself
• Aesthetics Lab between science and art
• Edvard Weie: "På Langelinie" (1923)
• Installation "Lad hænderne se" for touching sculptures
• Scent installation "Wittgensteins Have" by Skeel & Skriver
• Works by Olafur Eliasson, Richard Mortensen, and Robert Jacobsen

Permanent exhibitions

• Samlingen – Changing presentations of the collection of modern Danish and international art from about 1900 to today, repeatedly bringing the works into new dialogues.
• Åbne magasiner – In the open storage, visitors pull out painting walls themselves and can thus view the entire painting collection, including works not currently on display.
• Æstetisk laboratorium – An experimental space where visitors playfully test how seeing and perception work – inspired by Bauhaus ideas and the psychology of perception.

Founded

1910

Operated by

Esbjerg Kunstforening (Vorstand mit Vertretung des Esbjerg Byråd)

Director

Inge Merete Kjeldgaard

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for members of the Esbjerg Kunstforening, of ICOM, and of various artist and museum associations, for students of art history and art academies, and for teachers preparing a class visit.

Accessibility

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

The exhibition rooms are spread across three floors, which can be reached by elevator. Wheelchairs are loaned free of charge at the ticket desk. The installation "Lad hænderne se" invites visitors to touch sculptures.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

The museum offers an open family workshop ("SNIK SAKS SØNDAG") and holiday workshops. The touch installation "Lad hænderne se" is intended for children from about age 3, along with interactive image and sound experiments and the Aesthetics Lab. Strollers may be taken along.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in Byparken between the Musikhuset Esbjerg and the water tower.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

In the shared foyer with the Musikhuset is Café KULISSEN (Tue–Sat 13:00–16:00). The museum shop carries handicrafts, design, books, catalogs, and posters.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit