Urban Nation Museum for Urban Contemporary Art

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Urban Nation is backed by the nonprofit Stiftung Berliner Leben, founded in 2013 by the state-owned housing company Gewobag. Under the direction of Yasha Young, the project began bringing artists from around the world to Berlin in 2013, where they created large-scale murals on building facades, mainly in Schöneberg.

This work gave rise to the museum at Bülowstraße 7, which opened in September 2017. For this purpose, the architecture firm GRAFT converted a late-19th-century building in 2016/17: two exhibition levels totaling about 550 square meters with rooms up to seven meters high, plus a walkway reminiscent of New York's High Line. The facade serves as a modular canvas that is regularly redesigned, and the neighboring buildings feature additional murals.

For the opening, 145 artists from 28 countries showed their work. Since then the museum has presented positions ranging from graffiti and street art to contemporary urban art in changing exhibitions and has been building its own collection. Since November 2021, a specialist library on street art and graffiti named after photographer Martha Cooper has added to the offering, along with fellowships, workshops, and neighborhood projects.

Highlights

• Ever-changing museum facade and murals on Bülowstraße
• Conversion by GRAFT with high-ceilinged exhibition spaces and a walkway
• Martha Cooper Library on street art and graffiti
• Free admission
• Guided tours in five languages and workshops with street artists

Founded

2017

Operated by

Stiftung Berliner Leben

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is generally free; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

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

According to the museum, accessible, with an elevator.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Year-round workshops with artists for children and teenagers from age 3, also for families; creative children's birthday parties can be booked.

Getting there & parking

The museum recommends arriving by subway or bus.

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

Museum (420 m², up to 150 guests), Attic Studio (about 30 seated or 50 at standing tables), Project Space at Bülowstraße 97 (up to 80 people), and Workspace at Bülowstraße 96 (up to 20 people) for corporate events, seminars, presentations, and creative formats; catering and technical equipment on request.

Plan your visit