With its in-house art collection, the MUCA houses one of the largest urban art collections in Europe. The art-loving Utz couple has taken advantage of the "somewhat quieter time" to add more objects for its exhibition purposes.
In the heart of Munich's old town, just a stone's throw from Marienplatz, the first museum for urban art in Germany is located in a former substation of the city's public utility company on a total area of approximately 2,000 square meters. The facade of the MUCA was designed by the renowned street artist Stohead and thus became an art object itself. The visitor enters the building through a calligraphically designed "shell". The MUCA thus creates a connecting element between its interior and exterior spaces. This connection is intended to convey to the visitor upon arrival that street art as an art form needs the public as a place for discussion and that the interior space represents a kind of protective and experimental zone.
Founded by the two art lovers and spouses Stephanie and Christian Utz, the MUCA as a private museum sets the highest value on inserting Urban Art into the contemporary art discourse and to "musealize" this emerging art form. Particular attention is paid to the museum's own collection, which is now one of the largest in Europe in the field of urban art. The MUCA sees itself as a meeting place for urban and contemporary art and impresses with a top-class exhibition program. On three floors as well as in the adjacent MUCA Bunker, the works of renowned, internationally acclaimed artists can be viewed in changing special exhibitions but also within the framework of the "Permanent Collection".
The MUCA is expanding its space at the museum's main building in Hotterstrasse to include the adjacent high bunker, whose history dates back to 1941. The former air-raid shelter from the Second World War became a bunker hotel, later a scene nightclub, and is now transformed into the MUCA (art) bunker. The MUCA restages this characteristic building and brings it back to life with the help of modern installations and elaborate murals. The opening is planned for May 2021.
At the same time, MUCA is planning to open Munich's largest interim use, continuing the success story of the art lab. MUCA has taken over the former health care building at Dachauer Strasse 90 to develop it into a center for art and culture. The six-story building once served as the headquarters of the health department before the city of Munich put the property up for interim use.
With approximately 10,000 square meters of space on six floors and an additional 6,800 square meters of outdoor space, the former health building offers even more room to implement an expanded concept of the first art laboratory. The concept includes an extensive exhibition area for visitors, an unconventional gastronomic offering, around 100 studios and workspaces for the creative industries, and a varied supporting program and creative workshops for young and old. The exhibition areas will cover a variety of different spaces spread over two floors.
Visitors will be able to discover national and international artists and their works. On the open studio days, visitors will have the opportunity to enter into dialogue and exchange with artists. The KUNSTLABOR 2 also offers an extensive cross-genre supporting program with live paintings, concerts, readings and workshops. The opening is planned for summer 2021.
With the MUCA bike tour, visitors experience Munich from a completely different perspective. During the bike tour through Munich along the Isar River, participants learn exciting facts about street art and the history of graffiti, discover the artworks of renowned street artists, and learn hidden insider tips off the beaten path of standard city guides. The tour ends at the MUCA Museum. Tours are available between April and October.
The MUCA regularly organizes after-work tours, themed tours, but also private tours, which are coordinated in advance. Especially in the context of incentive programs, interactive workshops or live-paintings including a meet & greet with the artist are ideal.
The Mural has become a gastronomic hotspot and is very popular among trendsetters. The fine-dining concept in the evening impresses with sophisticated menus with a regional-creative focus, awarded with a Michelin star and 15 Gault & Millau points. The restaurant can also be booked for exclusive events.
For more information and daily opening hours, please visit: www.muca.eu
