KW Institute for Contemporary Art

The Berlin Biennale was founded in 1996, emerging from Kunst-Werke—now KW Institute for Contemporary Art. Since its first edition in 1998, the Berlin Biennale has consistently presented a large part of its program at KW. Established in 1991 in a dilapidated margarine factory, KW has since become a home for progressive artistic practices. It played a crucial role in positioning Berlin as an internationally relevant location for contemporary art following the fall of the Berlin Wall. KW’s work is driven by the urgent questions of our time, shaping its approach to the production, presentation, and mediation of contemporary art. Without a permanent collection, KW maintains the flexibility and openness to respond to the present and to develop a program attuned to contemporary realities. While internationally recognized, KW remains deeply rooted in its local context.

KW Institute for Contemporary Art
Auguststraße 69
10117 Berlin