Munich: Big birthday bash of the PIN.Freunde in the Pinakothek der Moderne!

Created: 09/09/2022, 20:20

By: Katja Kraft

Matti Suuronen's “Futuro” – the PIN.Freunde acquired the work in 2016 for the Pinakothek der Moderne.

At the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the house and the association, you can bid for a picnic with champagne in the Futuro.

© Sigi Jantz

The Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich turns 20 this year.

And with it the association PIN.Freunde.

Together they invite everyone to celebrate for a week.

This will be a party!

There's a lot of grumbling going on at the moment.

Oh, what do you mean at the moment?

There were and always are complainers.

Who constantly comment loudly on what "politics", "Deutsche Bahn", "the other drivers" should do differently.

And then there are people like Katharina von Perfall and Dorothee Wahl.

Who don't complain, but tackle things.

Out of one of the most beautiful motives imaginable: the love of art.

Love and art – a blessing!

Both have been in the Pinakothek der Moderne for 20 years, which is known to be celebrating its birthday this year.

And with her the PIN.Freunde association of the Pinakothek der Moderne, whose chairmen are von Perfall and Wahl.

When the house at Barer Straße 40 was opened in 2002, the existing gallery association became PIN.Freunde.

Its goal: to promote the four institutions (Collection of Modern Art, State Graphic Collection, Architecture Museum of the TU and The Design Museum), which from then on found a home under one roof.

Sounds terribly disdainful, like bookkeeping and donation receipts.

But it is: a tirelessly running engine for art for two decades, driven by a fuel that never runs out - passion.

Great strides forward for art: the chairmen of the PIN.Freunde association, Katharina von Perfall (left) and Dorothee Wahl.

© Zeynep Oktay/PIN.Friends of the Pinakothek der Moderne

“Our goal is that the potential of this house is really used.

That not only lovers come and enjoy quietly.

A visit to the Pinakothek der Moderne should be fun for everyone, not just for those who already know everything,” emphasizes von Perfall.

That is why they particularly support mediation programs.

"Children can do art..." for example, where five to twelve year olds are taken on a new adventure every Sunday.

A nice side effect: while the little ones let off steam creatively in the Pinakothek der Moderne, the parents can enjoy the house in peace and at their own pace.

A free Småland of art, so to speak.

The PIN.Party is the annual highlight

Many families know and appreciate this.

But if your children are long past elementary school age, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the name PIN.Freunde is the legendary parties that the association throws in the rotunda of the museum every year.

The motto of the first party in 2003 is basically still valid today: "Let's party for Art".

Because here, in the spirit of the sponsorship idea, people don't just dance, chat and drink.

But also auctioned off art and other things.

On September 16, 2022 it will be that time again - the entire proceeds will go to the next big purchase, the next big exhibition.

This time, at the PIN.Party in the rotunda of the Pinakothek der Moderne, you won't be able to bid on art, but on experiences.

Each admission ticket is also a lottery ticket for two nights for two people at COMO Castello del Nero in Italy, including breakfast and dinner in a starred restaurant.

A picnic with champagne in the Futuro, a barbecue evening with Achim Hochdörfer, director of the Museum Brandhorst, or a dinner at Emslieb Castle are also included in the auction.

Achim Hochdörfer, director of the Brandhorst Museum in Munich.

© Oliver Bodmer

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And the Pinakothek der Moderne is also offering a colorful birthday program these days.

Admission is free from 13 to 18 September 2022.

There will be free guided tours every day.

On September 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can have objects from the museum painted on your face by artists.

A workshop for two to four-year-olds on September 17 introduces even the youngest to art.

Meanwhile, young people are invited on September 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. to express themselves artistically with photos, videos and music.

Then on Friday there's the PIN.Party.

Part of the secret of the club's success lies in these parties.

It has more than 900 members.

That's quite a lot, but their club contributions alone would not be enough for the numerous exhibitions and acquisitions that are sponsored year after year.

That is why the board, with its dedicated staff and gifted networkers such as von Perfall and Wahl, focuses on numerous events that attract potential sponsors.

At the time of the gallery association there were four events per year, today there are just as many - per month.

In addition, regular trips with exclusive visits to artist studios and galleries.

“All of this has been very well received by our sponsors.

So we not only offer them the opportunity to assume their social responsibility by making donations to the association, but also the other way around

to offer their customers or business partners something at top-class events,” explains Wahl.

Yes, many take it seriously, this social responsibility.

But not all.

Sponsors such as BMW and Allianz have been loyal to PIN.Freunde for years

And because birthday children are allowed to make a wish, especially capable ones like PIN.Freunde, they also have a choice and Perfall has a wish.

"There are still many companies that earn a lot of money in Munich, benefiting from the location but not promoting anything," criticizes Dorothee Wahl.

“Microsoft, Apple, Google, for example, are not involved anywhere.

This is something that I don't think is possible.

Anyone who can offer all the locational advantages for their international employees in Munich must also give something back.” Just like the many sponsors who have been loyal to them for years do.

"Once you've been there, like Allianz and BMW, you stay with us" - also a sign that they seem to be doing some things right in their work.

Duke Franz of Bavaria: With a breath of fresh air into the modern age!

That's why a second wish follows, this time in the direction of politics.

Better: a question.

One that you hear again and again when you talk to representatives of art institutions in Munich: Why is the city actually making so little of the great treasure that lies there on the art area?

You have to imagine that: 18 museums and exhibition rooms, 40 galleries and cultural institutions, in the middle of the city.

The art area is one of the most important cultural locations in the world.

But then again only Wiesn and FC Bayern are advertised internationally.

The city marketing would have to do what the long-time PIN.Freunde board member Duke Franz von Bayern always had in mind at work.

"In the early years he always asked himself how it was possible to bring good, international art to what was initially very German, local,

to bring provincially oriented Munich.

'Let's throw open the windows to the world', that was his motto,” says Katharina von Perfall.

It's a success.

With a breath of fresh air into the modern age.

The complete festival program for the birthday week in the Pinakothek der Moderne can be found here, information and tickets for the PIN.Party can be found here