AICA prize ceremony

AICA Germany and the Georg Kolbe Museum Berlin warmly invite you to the 2025 AICA Awards ceremony.

Once a year, the members of the German section of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) present the awards for „Museum of the Year,“ „Exhibition of the Year,“ and „Special Exhibition.“ The Georg Kolbe Museum has been named Museum of the Year 2025, the most prestigious award for museums in Germany.

A special public event will celebrate all the winners and AICA on June 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, in the garden of the Georg Kolbe Museum.

The following awards will also be presented: The Exhibition of the Year 2025, as chosen by the German Association of Art Critics, is the exhibition „Five Friends: John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly,“ which was on display from October 3, 2025, to January 11, 2026, at Museum Ludwig Cologne, and from April 10 to August 17, 2025, at Museum Brandhorst Munich. The Special Exhibition 2025 award goes to the solo show „Małgorzata Mirga-Tas – An Alternative History,“ which was presented at Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg. The AICA Prize for Young Art Criticism is awarded to Steph Holl-Trieu, supported by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation until the end of 2025.

After the award ceremony, a public panel discussion on the topic „Historical Legacy and Decentralized Perspectives“ will take place starting at 4:00 PM. The participants, Dr. Kathleen Reinhardt (Director, Georg Kolbe Museum), Dennis Brzek (Director, Mies van der Rohe House), and Stephan Koal, KVOST (Director of Kunstverein Ost), will discuss the historical and current challenges faced by smaller institutions in Berlin.

Detailed Program

3:00–4:00 PM, Award Ceremony Welcome: Dr. Kathleen Reinhardt (Director, Georg Kolbe Museum), Dr. Alexander Steinhilber (Head of the Culture Department at the Senate Administration for Culture and Social Cohesion of the State of Berlin), Carsten Probst (President, AICA Germany)

Laudations

Jan Verwoert for the „Museum of the Year“: Georg Kolbe Museum, Berlin

Dr. Ulrike Lehmann for the „Exhibition of the Year“: „Five Friends: John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly,“ Museum Ludwig, Cologne, and Museum Brandhorst, Munich

Dr. Ann-Katrin Günzel for the „Special Exhibition“: „Małgorzata Mirga-Tas – An Alternative History,“ Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg

Kolja Reichert for the „Prize for Young Art Criticism“: Steph Holl-Trieu

Moderation: Jeannette Brabenetz and Dr. Ellen Wagner

4:00–5:30 PM, Panel Discussion „Historical Legacy and Decentralized Perspectives“ with Dr. Kathleen Reinhardt (Director, Georg Kolbe Museum), Dennis Brzek (Director, Mies van der Rohe House), Stephan Koal, KVOST (Director of Kunstverein Ost e.V.)

Moderation: Carsten Probst and Dr. Sabine Maria Schmidt

6:00 PM, End of Event