Kunstmuseum St. Gallen

About the museum

The history of the museum begins with the St. Gallen Art Association, founded in 1827, which developed from an association of local artists into a society serving the city's public. As the collection grew, a permanent exhibition venue became necessary. Together with the Historical Society and the natural history society, the neoclassical museum building in the Stadtpark was built to plans by Johann Christoph Kunkler and opened on 8 October 1877. When the historical department moved out in 1921, art gained more space and independence.

In the postwar period the collection grew considerably, through acquisitions of modern and contemporary Swiss and international art as well as donations from private collectors and foundations. From 1970 to 1987 the museum remained closed because it needed renovation. In 2012 the Art Association, the St. Gallen Museums Foundation, the city and the Ortsbürgergemeinde joined together to form the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen Foundation. Since the new building for the Natural History Museum in 2016, the art collection has had the entire former museum building at its disposal.

The collection ranges from late medieval and Renaissance paintings to contemporary art and sees itself as the most important art collection in eastern Switzerland. The museum also operates the Lokremise, a pioneering railway infrastructure building (1903–1911) by Carl Moser near the station, as an art and culture laboratory for contemporary positions. Gianni Jetzer has been director since 2022.

Highlights

• Neoclassical museum building in the Stadtpark, dating from 1877
• Collection from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance to the present
• Permanent exhibition "Sammlungsfieber" (Collection Fever)
• Lokremise near the station with free admission
• Art lab and programmes for children and families

Permanent exhibition

• Sammlungsfieber – Permanent presentation of works from the museum's collection in the Stadtpark.

Founded

1877

Operated by

Stiftung Kunstmuseum St.Gallen

Director

Roland Wäspe

Admission & discounts

Prices apply to the building in the Stadtpark; admission to the Lokremise is free. Free admission, among others, for members of the Kunstverein St. Gallen, the Gesellschaft der Freunde bildender Kunst, VMS, ICOM, proARTe, VLSG and VKKS, for holders of the Swiss or St. Gallen Museum Pass, the Raiffeisen card or the Lake Constance Experience Card, as well as for press and school visits as specified on the website.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Steps lead to the main entrance; wheelchair users use the entrance on the east side with a ramp (8% gradient) and announce themselves via the intercom at reception. A lift serves all exhibition areas, the café can be reached by a platform lift, and there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the lower level. A wheelchair can be borrowed (reservation by phone or email). There is a parking space for prams in the foyer. The website offers a version in Easy Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

The Open Art Lab in the Kirchhoferhaus invites visitors to get creative every first Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CHF 5 plus museum admission, no registration required). The Kinder Kunst Klub for children aged 6 and over meets on the last Wednesday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. (CHF 8, registration required); the Lokremise offers Little Artists.

Getting there & parking

By car, take the St. Gallen St. Fiden motorway exit.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

A pop-up café is currently hosted in the museum café; the shop offers publications and editions. There is a pop-up store in the Lokremise.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit