Skulpturenmuseum Glaskasten
Marl's municipal museum of sculpture, video art, and sound art, with around 150 works in public spaces – closed until its move to the Marschall 66 cultural center.
About the museum
The Skulpturenmuseum was founded in 1982 as the municipal art museum of Marl. It owes its nickname to its original exhibition space: a glazed room beneath the council wing of Marl's city hall, popularly known as the "Glaskasten" (glass box). The founding director was the art historian Uwe Rüth, who led the museum until 2007; Georg Elben has been at its helm since 2011.
The collection centers on sculpture of classical modernism and the present day, including works by Auguste Rodin, Alberto Giacometti, and Max Ernst. A special feature is its art in public spaces: numerous sculptures stand throughout the city, including works by Hans Arp, Richard Serra, and Ossip Zadkine, all freely accessible at any time. The museum also gained a reputation beyond the region through the Marler Video-Kunst-Preis (video art prize), awarded since 1984, and the Deutscher Klangkunst-Preis (German sound art prize), established in 2002.
Because of the renovation of the city hall, the museum moved in 2022 into a provisionally converted building of the Martin-Luther-King-Schule on Georg-Herwegh-Straße; the collection is meanwhile stored in the LWL depot in Münster. Since its last exhibition in March 2026, the museum has been closed. Its future home is "Marschall 66", a vacant postwar school on Kampstraße named after the Marl architect Günther Marschall. A cultural center with the museum, central library, and café is being created there, with an opening planned for 2027.
Highlights
- Around 150 sculptures in Marl's public spaces, freely accessible at any time
- "Naturmaschine" (1969) by Matschinsky-Denninghoff
- Modernist works including pieces by Auguste Rodin, Alberto Giacometti, and Max Ernst
- Marler Video-Kunst-Preis and Deutscher Klangkunst-Preis
- Guided bike tours to the sculptures around the city
Permanent exhibitions
- Kunst im öffentlichen Raum – Around 150 sculptures and installations are spread throughout the city of Marl and remain freely accessible during the closure.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Stadt Marl (Amt für Kultur und Weiterbildung)
- Director
- Georg Elben
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission to the Skulpturenmuseum was previously free year-round.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Occasional children's courses, such as a free three-day cyanotype course for ages 10 to 16 during the 2026 summer holidays.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Georg-Herwegh-Straße
Bus 220 from Recklinghausen Hbf, Marl-Sinsen, or Marl-Mitte S-Bahn station to "Georg-Herwegh-Straße."
By car via the A43, exit Marl-Sinsen, or via Victoriastraße.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | During the closure, the museum offers, among other things, guided bike tours (3–4 hours) to the sculptures around the city; dates are listed in the event calendar. A digital map shows the locations of the artworks in public space. Group tours for 15 or more people, booked in advance, last about 90–120 minutes. |
