Municipal art collection and forum for contemporary art in the old Gräfrath town hall, home of the Internationale Bergische Kunstausstellung.
September 25, 2026 – November 1, 2026
The anniversary edition of this long-established show presents painting, installation, photography, and video by 13 mostly young artists; the art prize goes to Sophie Schweighart.
The museum occupies the former town hall of Gräfrath, once an independent town. Architect Arno Eugen Fritsche designed the building, constructed from 1907, in the playful Bergisch style with gables, oriels, slate, and a clock tower. After severe war damage, it was rebuilt in 1953 and housed the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum) until the late 1980s, and after that mainly the local art association.
On the initiative of the benefactor couple Kurt and Ilse Baden, the old building was renovated and expanded with a new wing; the city provided the building, while the state and private donors financed the conversion. In October 1996 the museum opened as "Museum Baden" and was later renamed Kunstmuseum Solingen. It is operated by a nonprofit management company; foundations, sponsors, and civic engagement cover more than half of the running costs. Gisela Elbracht-Iglhaut has directed the museum since 2019.
The museum holds the municipal art collection of around 10,000 works, mostly with a regional focus, including more than 8,000 works on paper. Key areas are early works by Solingen painter Georg Meistermann, 19th-century landscape painting, works by August Preuße, and sculptures by Max Kratz. The museum is also a forum for young contemporary art: every year it hosts the Internationale Bergische Kunstausstellung, founded in 1946, with its art prize of the same name, as well as the annual show of Solingen artists. The independent Zentrum für verfolgte Künste (Center for Persecuted Arts) has its own spaces in the same building.
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4.50 |
| Children & teens | €3School students pay €3. No age limit for free admission is stated. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Groups | –Private guided tours by arrangement €60 plus admission per person. School classes €3 per child including studio work; school tour "Skulptur" €8 per child. |
Special exhibitions at no extra charge. The website does not specify who qualifies for reduced admission. Separate admission, independent of the Zentrum für verfolgte Künste in the same building. Tickets for concerts at the museum via Solingen live.
Main entrance only via 13 steps; low-step access through the side entrance by prior arrangement (cobblestone paving). Exhibition rooms are step-free, with elevator access to all floors. Accessible restroom in the basement (opened by attendants). Wheelchair and folding stools available on loan. Accessible parking spaces at the museum parking lot, Dycker Feld 72. No guidance system, no tours for blind visitors or in sign language, no audio description for video works.
Great for kids & families
Studio courses for children aged 6 and up (Saturday mornings), holiday courses, and family tours; children's birthday party in the museum studio for children aged 6 and up with up to ten guests (two hours). The main entrance has 13 steps – with a stroller, use the side entrance and notify the museum beforehand; all floors are reachable by elevator.
Solingen Gräfrath
Trolleybus 683 (from Solingen-Mitte or Wuppertal-Vohwinkel station) to the "Gräfrath" stop, then on foot via Wuppertaler Straße.
Parking available
Museum parking lot (Dycker Feld 72) with accessible parking spaces.
About 4 minutes by car from the A 46, exit Haan-Ost. The paths to the building have cobblestones.
Get directionsMuseum shop with catalogs, editions, postcards, and gifts (Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00).
Up to 160 guests.
Historic council chamber for conferences, seminars, presentations, anniversaries, and private parties: up to 90 people seated at tables, up to 160 for a standing reception; can also be divided for 20–40 people, with a catering kitchen.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public guided tour of the current special exhibition every Sunday at 14:00. Audio tour via QR code on your own smartphone. School programs for primary and secondary levels with a studio component; register by phone or email. Online escape room on the Bergischer Kunstpreis. |
All 8 museums in Solingen All museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
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