Our goals. Our visions.

A place for contemporary art, architecture and critical discourse

The Kunsthaus, located in the heart of Meran/o, is a venue for contemporary art and architecture in South Tyrol. Here we exhibit, discuss and communicate current artistic positions and address contemporary social, cultural and aesthetic issues. As one of the oldest and most active art institutions in the region – locally anchored, internationally oriented – our focus is on the production of art and the promotion of critical discourse.

With exhibitions, events, educational projects and publications, we continuously expand upon local and national art and cultural history. In doing so, we consciously broaden existing narratives to include perspectives that have previously been missing, marginalised or overlooked. We pay particular attention to narratives that fall outside a heteronormative, Western-influenced canon.

We organise up to five exhibitions each year, often as site-specific productions created in close collaboration with artists, architects and local stakeholders. Interdisciplinary programming, active outreach work and residency programmes all make the Kunsthaus an open meeting place for art lovers of all ages.

Our aim is not only to display art and architecture, but also to negotiate them together with artists, architects and visitors as a social, aesthetic and societal space to experience. The Kunsthaus sees itself as an independent platform for contemporary artistic practice that has strong ties to Meran/o and South Tyrol and also forms part of an international network.

Values and principles of Kunst Meran Merano Arte

The Kunst Meran Merano Arte association, based in the city’s Kunsthaus, is committed to the humanistic and democratic values enshrined in the constitution of the Italian Republic. All of its activities are based upon respect for human dignity as the foundation of a self-determined, pluralistic society.
The association assumes responsibility for the prevention of anti-Semitism, racism and all forms of group-related hostility. Artistic freedom and an open, tolerant space for differing attitudes, perspectives and forms of expression are indispensable prerequisites for our work.
This Code of Conduct forms the ethical framework for the activities of our art association.
 

A building and its history

The need for a dedicated art and architecture centre in Meran/o arose from the success of the Art Gallery Raffl, opened in 1995 on the Pfarrplatz. In particular, its annual architecture exhibitions quickly made clear that new spatial possibilities were required. In 1998, attention turned to the Laubenhaus, a protected building located at Laubengasse 163 – the so-called Hallerhaus.
Thanks to the commitment of then-president Georg Klotzner and director Herta Wolf Torggler, as well as the support of the Südtiroler Sparkasse (the building’s previous owner), the house was acquired for a cultural project and financial backing for restoration was secured. A feasibility study conducted by the firm of Höller & Klotzner Architekten in 1993, which envisaged its use as a cultural centre, formed the basis for the subsequent realisation.
The building was in dire need of renovation at the time: decades of standing empty or temporary usage had clearly left their mark. The architectural challenge was to transform the narrow, approximately 40-metre-deep house with its compact longitudinal façades, located in the porticos, into a well-lit, contemporary exhibition building.
Working closely with the Office for the Preservation of Monuments, the interior of the building was then largely exposed. The restoration of the historic structure, its suspended steel staircase and the new roof terrace all now manage to achieve an effortless combination of old and new. The central element is the vertical access with its spiral route up to the top floor, which also functions as a spatial guidance system for exhibitions.
After two years of building work, the Kunsthaus was opened on 27 October 2001 with an exhibition entitled Kunst und Kur. Since then, the Kunsthaus has established itself as an indispensable cultural venue and today comprises around 400 m² of exhibition space, a studio apartment, the Caffè Kunsthaus, a gallery shop and an events room able to hold around 70 people.

The text was written by Magdalene Schmidt and Andreas Kofler as part of the anniversary publication KUNST IST to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kunst Meran Merano Arte association.

Editor’s note: The building has since 2026 been owned by the Autonomous Province of Bozen-South Tyrol.

 

Commitment to art and society
 

Kunst Meran Merano Arte is a non-profit art association based in the city’s Kunsthaus. It was founded in 1996 by committed citizens of Meran/o and South Tyrol on the initiative of the Art Gallery Raffl, thus making the association one of the oldest players in contemporary art and architecture matters in the South Tyrol region.
The art association is supported by an active network of some 150 members; a voluntary board; an advisory panel for architecture; numerous partners and supporters; and a dedicated team of permanent staff. This community forms not only the organisational basis of the institution, but also a constitutive part.

Since December 2004, Kunst Meran Merano Arte has been a member of AMACI, the Association of Italian Museums of Contemporary Art.

Previous presidents and directors of the association include:
President Georg Klotzner, architect and founding member (1996 – present)
Director Herta Wolf Torggler, founding director (1996 – 2021)
Director Martina Oberprantacher (2020 – present)

In its over twenty years of activity, Kunst Meran Merano Arte has collaborated with numerous curators, including Valerio Dehò, Christiane Rekade, and Judith Waldmann. Currently, Lucrezia Cippitelli and Simone Frangi are responsible for curating contemporary art exhibitions.
 

Become part of a committed community

Kunst Meran Merano Arte welcomes all those who are interested in contemporary art, appreciate independent cultural work and would like to become part of a committed community.
With your membership, you will be supporting an experimental, internationally oriented programme in Meran/o, promoting artistic production and helping to make art, architecture and culture accessible to a wider audience.

Your benefits as a member
• free admission to all exhibitions and events
• free guided tours and outreach programmes
• invitations to excursions and association trips
• discounts on special events
• discounts on publications, editions and shop items
• voting rights at general meetings as well as active and passive voting rights

Annual membership fees
•    €100 regular
•    €50 under 40 years
•    €20 student

If you are interested, please contact: info@kunstmeranoarte.org
 

How you can support art and cultural diversity

There are numerous ways to support the Kunsthaus! Every donation helps promote contemporary art, cultural diversity and independent cultural work in Meran/o and South Tyrol over the long term, thus making it accessible to everyone.

Donations by bank transfer (100% tax deductible)

Donations by bank transfer are the easiest and most popular way to support the Kunsthaus. Your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Payee:
Kunst Meran Merano Arte VFG/APS
Lauben 163 – Portici 163
39012 Meran/o
Italy
IT01596020212

Bank details:
Südtiroler Sparkasse / Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano
BIC CRBZIT2B020
IBAN IT 07M0 6045 5859 0000 0000 9000 0

If you have any questions about donations, please contact: info@kunstmeranoarte.org

Support us via your tax return (5‰)

You can also support Kunst Meran Merano Arte under your Italian tax return with a 5‰ contribution.

Please indicate the following VAT number: 01596020212

Kunst Meran Merano Arte
Lauben 163
39012 Meran/o
Italy
VAT no.: 01596020212
Recipient code: T9K4ZHO

Many thanks!