365 Days of Art Appreciation

Where the world's art is at home

The documenta, generally considered the most important international contemporary art exhibition in the world, is held in Kassel every five years. Each documenta runs for 100 days and attracts people from all over the globe interested in the latest art and culture trends to Kassel, which gives the city a truly unusual and very cosmopolitan feel.

The documenta was established in 1955 by the artist and designer Arnold Bode and some like-minded enthusiasts with the intention of showcasing the important role that modern art played in German society after the Second World War. The huge success of this first documenta encouraged those involved to organise another exhibition under the same name four years later. Over the next few decades, the documenta evolved into one of the world's most important art events.

Ever since, each individual documenta has been a unique project and a forum for showcasing and discussing the worldwide developments in contemporary art, culture and society. For the international modern art scene, the documenta is like a melting pot that regularly brings artists as well as arts fans from all over the world together in Kassel.