Cate Blanchett: "Can't muzzle art" - Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof marks 30 years with star-studded gala and Chanel partnership
Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof celebrated its 30th anniversary with a high-profile gala, A Night in Berlin, honouring private donors and unveiling new funding partnerships. The event brought together stars like Cate Blanchett, Matt Dillon, and Wim Wenders, alongside leading artists and museum directors Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath. A key highlight was the expanded collaboration with Chanel, which will support future exhibitions, including Lina Lapelytė's upcoming installation in 2026.
The gala served as both a celebration and a platform to secure the museum's financial future. Directors Bardaouil and Fellrath emphasised the need for private funding to strengthen the Hamburger Bahnhof's public role and deepen society's engagement with contemporary art. Their partnership with Chanel, formalised through the Chanel Commission, will back major projects, such as Lapelytė's We Make Years Out of Hours, set to transform the Historic Hall from May 2026.
Among the attendees, Cate Blanchett stood out, not only for her presence with her son, Ignatius, but also for her passionate defence of art. 'We cannot switch off art. We cannot silence it,' she declared, underscoring its essential role even amid controversy. Blanchett's ties to the museum run deep—she previously starred in Julian Rosefeldt's *Manifesto*, a film installation shown there in 2016. The evening also recognised artistic and philanthropic contributions. Four new awards were presented: the **Hamburger Bahnhof Studio Award** (€15,000 each) went to Abdulhamid Kircher, Monilola Olayemi Ilupeju, and Jonas Roßmeißl, while Mona Hatoum received a lifetime achievement honour. Indian collector Kiran Nadar was also celebrated for her patronage. Guests included artists Wolfgang Tillmans, Anne Imhof, Ólafur Elíasson, and Katharina Grosse, along with figures like Nina Hoss, Herbert Grönemeyer, and Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle.
The gala reinforced the Hamburger Bahnhof's commitment to blending public and private support for contemporary art. With Chanel's backing and high-profile advocacy from figures like Blanchett, the museum's 30th-anniversary initiatives aim to ensure its continued relevance. The awards and upcoming exhibitions mark concrete steps toward engaging wider audiences in the years ahead.
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