Art & Culture – Hannover

A Mecca for art lovers

Distinguished and diverse, Hannover’s landscape of museums and art galleries enjoys an outstanding reputation. The Sprengel Museum Hannover is among the most important addresses in the world for the art of the 20th and the 21st centuries; the kestnergesellschaft, the Kunstverein (Arts Association) and the Ahlers Pro Arte/Kestner Pro Arte Foundation are further institutions for contemporary art with reputations extending well beyond the region. Visitors to the Lower Saxony State Museum (Landesmuseum) in Hannover will find Departments of Prehistory, Natural History and Ethnology, the State Art Gallery and an aquarium. The Museum August Kestner presents the ancient world and ancient Egypt, while the history of the state and the city is recounted in the Museum of History. The Wilhelm-Busch-Museum houses caricature, satirical art and an unique Wilhelm-Busch collection.

Art in public places

At the beginning of the 1970s, an art project was launched on the streets of Hannover that attracted widespread attention. Since then, the townscape has been uniquely characterised by the works of art that are to be seen there, and which in the meantime have come to number 170, including a series of specially designed tram and bus stops. The celebrated Nanas by Niki de Saint Phalle are splendidly enthroned on the banks of the River Leine. Once controversial, these three buxom wenches have long been among the city’s most popular photo motifs.

Kissed by the muse

The world exposition EXPO 2000 gave a unique and sustained impetus to Hannover’s cultural scene. Today, the city’s programme of cultural events is more diverse and more exciting than ever, offering a comprehensive spectrum of everything from light entertainment to stage productions of the highest calibre. The State Opera and the State Theatre both occupy leading positions in international rankings, and celebrated conductors and orchestras of international renown can always rely on enthusiastic receptions from their devotees in Hannover.

Magic moments

For many years now, the GOP Varieté-Theatre has offered entertainment of the highest calibre. Top international artists meld acrobatic performances on the highest level, baffling conjuring and offbeat comedy into a modern show experience that is constantly new. This is a place with cult character: such great names as Zarah Leander and Heinz Erhardt appeared here in days gone by, and today the GOP is Germany’s only variety theatre still performing at its original venue of the „Golden Twenties“.