Rooftop Art Party

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Kunsthal Rotterdam marked both its history and future in 2022 with a grand and spectacular event: the Rooftop Art Party. For the occasion, the museum’s rooftop was transformed into a temporary sculpture terrace filled with surprises, art, poetry, and performance.

On the rooftop, thirty human sculptures — sourced from national and international collections — form a colorful panorama celebrating the diversity of art and audiences over the past three decades. The sculptures are not only visually striking from Museumpark, but also interactive: through an app, visitors can listen to spoken word fragments in which Rotterdam voices share their personal reflections. In this way, art and poetry merge seamlessly into one another.

At night, the rooftop is atmospherically illuminated, and the façade of the Kunsthal becomes a projection surface that brings the sculptural spectacle further to life. During the closing event, the sculptures are replaced by thirty living statues — performers, dancers, mimes, and acrobats who literally embody art in a grand tableau vivant. One of the highlights is a choreography in which acrobats descend along the façade in sync with light and music.

The Rooftop Art Party is free to attend, takes place in public space, and is both COVID-safe and sustainably designed. With this unique anniversary project, the Kunsthal reaffirms its role as a cultural pioneer, connector, and innovator — a celebration of art in motion, right in the heart of the city.