Young Friends Report: Meetings in Hamburg

It's a fact: Although they are highly dynamic, Young Friends networks within museum associations are still often considered by many as cultural exceptions.

Nowadays, with new Young Friends collectives in development throughout Europe, it should be emphasized that they have already been well established and recognized in Germany for decades, to such an extent that Young Friends ambassadors from all German regions meet twice a year to exchange experiences and strategies, and strengthen their networks. The next meeting of this kind will take place in Mannheim in 2 weeks' time – We’ll speak more on that later.

With that in mind, our Young Friends coordinator Naïma has just spent a week in Hamburg : a 1st step in the logical continuation of her appointment, one of the main objectives of which is to federate the network of Young Friends delegates at international level, and to represent and valourise their activities within the WFFM.

The Hamburger Kunsthalle's Young Friends team (Shanice Page, Hannah Bode and Laura Harlaβ) and the WFFM’s Young Friends coordinator held two highly symbolic Franco-German meetings. This was a natural opportunity to get to know each other and discuss how the representation of Young Friends within the WFFM can evolve, as well as to discover first-hand the work of this highly effective German team, which is an inspiration to many Friends of museums in general.

Wednesday 25/10, Kunsthalle: a guided tour by Shanice and Hannah, to discover the specific features of the architecture (the historic building was designed in the 19th century, and now coexists with a much more contemporary 2nd building), and the permanent collections. Known as "THE" iconic masterpiece of the museum, Caspar Friedrich's famous Romantic painting Wanderer above the Sea of Fog is the inspiration for the next major temporary exhibition, which opens this winter and will be of particular interest to the Young Friends team. Needless to say, Naïma was very interested in the modern art collection, which echoes that of the Musée de Grenoble, and was able to hone her knowledge of artists who have left their mark on the history of German art : Max Beckmann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, etc.

Guided tours are indeed at the heart of what the Young Friends of the Kunsthalle executive team offers, and are planned on an ad hoc basis in line with current events.

Sunday 29/10, Dietmar Koel Straβe 19: a perfect example of the creativity and organisational skills of the Young Friends of the Kunstthalle executive team, who have formed a partnership with the 'Wall Can Dance' collective to offer an exclusive inter-generational encounter for Friends of the Kunsthalle members.

A time of exchange and street art with Australian street artist Fintan Magee, at the foot of the huge fresco he is currently creating on commission and directly inspired by... Caspar Friedrich's famous painting! Encouraged by the Young Friends ambassadors and the public, Magee talked about his working method: the technique he used to paint on such a large format and outdoors, Caspar Friedrich's heritage and inspiration, the music he listened to during the project, etc.

A link with the Romantic artists who also painted a lot outdoors?

This seemingly spontaneous event required meticulous preparation behind the scenes and on going  collective coordination gathering  around fifty people around the street artist at a busy intersection.

A resolutely contemporary approach just a few kilometres from the Kunsthalle.