OPEN CALL: Kunstverein München seeks new Director

After more than five prolific years, Maurin Dietrich’s term as director of Kunstverein München e.V. will end on December 31, 2025. As such, the board of the Kunstverein now has the opportunity to recruit a new director to lead the art institution, starting on January 1, 2026. Founded in 1823, Kunstverein München is one of the oldest and most established of the more than 300 Kunstvereine in Germany. For more than 200 years, the institution’s public mission has been to support diverse artistic practices by presenting solo and group exhibitions by international artists and to ensure their engagement by a diverse community within the local context. Complementing this core activity, Kunstverein München produces publications and hosts public talks and lectures, performances and screenings, as well as a range of social and educational activities for its 2,200 members. In the recent past, previous directors Helmut Draxler, Dirk Snauwaert, Maria Lind, Stefan Kalmár, Bart van der Heide, and Chris Fitzpatrick have worked with dedicated and energetic teams to present innovative contemporary art, critical curatorial concepts, and a wide range of exhibitions, gaining the Kunstverein considerable national and international recognition. Kunstverein München is supported by Munich’s local arts council, and its role as a key contemporary art institution in the city ranks it alongside major institutions such as the Pinakothek der Moderne, Haus der Kunst, and Lenbachhaus. Since 2019, Maurin Dietrich has worked with numerous artists, among them Diamond Stingily, Pati Hill, Yalda Afsah, Tony Cokes, and Pippa Garner, to conceive substantial new productions, often traveling to other institutions. Dietrich brought in Gloria Hasnay as curator, who organized major solo exhibitions by Patricia L. Boyd, Bea Schlingelhoff, and Richard Frater, among others. Together, they developed a multi-faceted program for the Kunstverein’s 200th anniversary in 2023. The institution’s profile has also been broadened to include the Archive Space, the Writers Residency and a Production Residency to connect local and international artists, as well as the Summer School to provide a framework for collective knowledge production. In recent years, Kunstverein München has experienced significant growth, attracting more than 1,000 new members. The director’s primary responsibility is developing the institution’s artistic programming and communication. The position is also responsible (along with the Head of Administration) for the budget and general management of the institution. The director will also be responsible for continuing the development of Kunstverein München’s archive. The director reports to the board, which is elected every two years by the members of Kunstverein München. The starting date for the position is January 1, 2026. The appointment is for a negotiable five years.