Ceremony 70 years of documenta

Dear friends of documenta,

What began in 1955 at the Fridericianum, at that time as a concurrent event of the Bundesgartenschau (German Federal Garden Show), is now one of the world’s most important series of contemporary art exhibitions. The first documenta, founded by Arnold Bode, opened in Kassel on July 15, 1955. A total of 15 documenta exhibitions have since taken place. Preparations for documenta 16 are currently underway opening in Kassel in 2027. 

documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH and the Fridericianum are celebrating this 70th anniversary with a ceremony to be held in conjunction with the opening of the intervention 7000 Palmen (engl.: 7000 palm trees) by Cosima von Bonin.

 We warmly invite you to the ceremony and the opening!

Program

Opening of the intervention 7000 Palmen by Cosima von Bonin
& Ceremony 70 years of documenta

A Wide-Ranging Family Program
Fridericianum, from 3 pm

A work of art to take home
7000 Palmen for Kassel: The Fridericianum offers you an original work of art by Cosima von Bonin! Pick up a palm tree pennant chain in the foyer and decorate your neighborhood,  balcony or living room. Please note that the edition is limited.

Ceremony 70 years of documenta
documenta Hall, 6 pm

Welcoming
Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoffmann
Managing Director, documenta and Museum Fridericianum gGmbH

Greetings
Dr. Sven Schoeller
Lord Mayor of the City of Kassel
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH
Timon Gremmels
Hessian State Minister for Science and Research, Art and Culture
Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH

Opening of the intervention 7000 Palmen by Cosima von Bonin
Moritz Wesseler, Director Fridericianum

Panel discussion
70 years of documenta in Kassel: documenta in the past, present and future
Panel guests: Roger M. Buergel (documenta 12), Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev (dOCUMENTA (13)), Adam Szymczyk (documenta 14) and Naomi Beckwith (documenta 16)
Moderation: Saskia Trebing (Monopol)

Followed by 

Get-Together
Fridericianum

Drag-Performance accompanying the Intervention 7000 Palmen
thonk piece: Reverse Psycholotree
Fridericianum
Mary Messhausen, proddy producer and Buzz

Party
Fridericianum
DJ LéLé Cocoon

Event information

The event is open to the public, free of charge, and is aimed at media representatives, the professional audience, the people of Kassel, and all interested parties. Event with simultaneous interpretation in and out of German and English as well as into German sign language.

Due to the limited number of seats, we kindly ask you to register by May 9, 2025, stating your name by email to 70jahre@documenta.de. 

Press representatives are kindly requested to provide accreditation by email to press@documenta.de, stating their name and the medium they work for.