documenta archiv

Address:
Untere Karlsstraße 4
34130 Kassel, Germany

Website
Social Media: @documenta.archiv

About the archive

The documenta archiv is a central institution for the preservation, documentation, and research of modern and contemporary art. It was founded in 1961 to provide the artistic directors of the documenta exhibitions with an institution dedicated to preservation and memory. It has evolved into a comprehensive research center whose holdings illuminate artistic, curatorial, and cultural developments from the 20th and 21st centuries. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and make accessible a wide range of materials that reflect the history of documenta as well as broader trajectories in contemporary art and to curate events dealing with documenta history.

At the core of the archive are the official records of every documenta exhibition since 1955. These include curatorial files, correspondence, planning documents, artist submissions, installation plans, posters, and press materials. Documenta archiv also maintains a specialized library and preserves the Performance Art Archive Black Kit, alongside an expanding collection of digital-born assets.

Focus & Research

Artists from a variety of fields are invited to explore questions of resilience within the documenta archiv. In doing so, they will draw on materials from the history of documenta, the archive's own infrastructure, and the expectations of a diverse audience. The project will explore the potential of artistic expression to shed light on the significance of art archives, with a focus on the documenta archiv, in a period when memory institutions are facing challenges due to limited resources. What measures could be implemented to enhance regional and national identification with the documenta archiv and its collection items? What innovative forms of participation might be developed to attract a broader public that can identify with the institution? Further themes could regard exclusions within the collection, alternative classifications, indexes and keywords. The question of whether archive spaces need to be fundamentally reimagined in a more open way is also being discussed. We are pleased to receive submissions for artistic projects that explore innovative spatial concepts and advocate for an inclusive, participatory approach to architectural design.

Residency details

Available period for archive visits: December 2026 to May 2027
Duration on location: 4 or more weeks
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday for the public / Monday for the fellows and by agreement

What the archive offers:

Access to archival materials, databases and catalogues, digital resources, technical or research support; curatorial guidance and creative input; and introductions to the collection and its contexts; and other forms of assistance depending on the project needs.

Workspace:

Reading Room, Library or other spaces in archive

Accessibility

Elevator and accessible toilets