Exhibition venue for contemporary art in a converted above-ground bunker next to the main station, closely linked to the Ruhrfestspiele festival.
September 13, 2026 – November 22, 2026
Twelve fellows of the Villa Romana in Florence explore hidden layers of landscape and history, including the mining heritage of the Ruhr region. The second part of the cooperation "Mutual Presence".
The Kunsthalle was born of the spirit of renewal after the war: after the Vestisches Museum was destroyed in 1944, Recklinghausen's museum director Franz Große-Perdekamp organized an exhibition of contemporary art in 1947, from which the artists' group "junger westen" emerged – including Emil Schumacher and Thomas Grochowiak.
As its home, the city chose a World War II above-ground bunker right next to the station, which was converted into an exhibition venue from 1949. The Kunsthalle first opened in 1950 as part of the Ruhrfestspiele; to this day, it presents a major solo exhibition by an internationally renowned contemporary artist for each festival.
Since 1950, the city has also awarded the "junger westen" art prize, initially at regional level and nationwide since 1956; today it is awarded every two years with an exhibition across all three floors. The purchases have grown into a collection of around 5,000 works of German and international art after 1945, at the core of which are the prizewinners. The Kunsthalle is part of the RuhrKunstMuseen network, runs an Artothek (art lending library) and, together with the Ikonen-Museum, is directed by Nico Anklam.
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50School students, apprentices, university students, groups of 10 or more, holders of the Recklinghausen-Pass or a comparable pass from other municipalities, holders of the (Jubilee) Ehrenamtskarte NRW (volunteer card) |
| Children & teens | €2.50free up to age 13 · Children under 14 free; school students aged 14 and over pay the reduced rate. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2.50 per personReduced admission for 10 people or more. Booked guided tour €55 per group (max. 20 people); book at 02361 501935. |
Pay what you want on Saturdays.
According to the Kunsthalle, accessible.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 13 |
|---|
Family Sundays with an exhibition tour and crafts (15:30–17:00, €5 per family including admission), holiday workshops for ages 6 to 14, and children's birthday parties for ages 7 to 12.
Recklinghausen Hauptbahnhof
Directly opposite Recklinghausen Hauptbahnhof (main station) and next to the central bus station (ZOB).
Parking available
Underground garage beneath the bus station.
Art lending library (Artothek) for borrowing artworks.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public guided tour every Sunday at 12:00 (free, plus admission). Education programs for daycare centers, schools, families and adults; ArtLab career orientation program for upper secondary school students. |
Cookies help you use this website. We only load the map and statistics with your consent.
