On Monday afternoon, the last barriers were broken down at ARoS Lev. 3 and there is now direct access from the existing museum building to the major museum expansion, which includes the artwork ‘The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell’, a subterranean gallery, and a 100-metre-long tunnel connecting it all.

“Today we have witnessed a major milestone for the project. With the expansion, we strengthen central Aarhus as a cultural epicentre. It is an ambitious and demanding project, and I would like to deeply thank everyone involved. I look much forward to the opening in 2025 where we can all experience this impressive extension,” says Rabih Azad-Ahmad, Alderman for Culture and Citizen Services in Aarhus.

The extension is a milestone in the project, and it is now clear how visitors will be able to move from ARoS' arrival area, down one floor and into the museum's new gallery and artwork.

“The project has now reached a point where you can really feel the interconnected spaces, the grandeur of James Turrell's artwork, and the visitor experience of a brand new ARoS. Everyone is working diligently to finalise all details, and we can't wait to share the great art experiences we all have in store,” says museum director Rebecca Matthews.

A subterranean gallery dedicated to installation art
The press got a sneak peek into ARoS’ new subterranean exhibition space, which will be dedicated to installation art created specifically for the gallery's unique architecture.

Earlier today, it was also announced that the Salling Foundations, who have generously supported the entire museum expansion from the groundbreaking ceremony, are contributing a further donation of DKK 4 million towards the completion of the new gallery.

“At the Salling Foundations we are delighted to contribute to ARoS‘ visionary, new subterraean gallery, which we believe will be an important platform for international artists, known and new. This new exhibition space will offer world-class art experiences for the benefit of all visitors, says Karin Salling, Vice Chair of the Købmand Herman Salling Foundation.

The gallery space is designed with an industrial look, free-standing columns, and ceiling-hung, visible technical installations, including advanced sound and absorption technologies to support an excellent audiovisual experience.

The Augustinus Foundation is generously supporting the first two exhibitions in the new gallery with DKK 4.5 million. The first exhibition will be announced on November 14 along with the rest of ARoS 2025 Exhibition Programme.

Expected opening in 2025
The construction company Aarsleff is responsible for the construction work. The museum expansion is supported by the Salling Foundations, the New Carlsberg Foundation, Aarhus Municipality, ARoS and an anonymous private donor.

Building the ARoS museum expansion, Aarsleff is tying a bow on more than 20 years of museum history as it was Aarsleff who broke ground when ARoS was built in the early 2000s.

“Art builds bridges between people – and with the inauguration of the physical transition between the old ARoS and the new, we at Aarsleff contribute to this valuable purpose. At the same time, we are forging another link in our relationship with the museum and with the city of Aarhus. It's a remarkable day,” says Aarsleff's Managing Director Jesper Kristian Jacobsen.

The museum expansion is expected to be completed in 2025, when the new Musikhuspark is also planned to open. Before then, the exterior construction work will be finalised and ARoS, architect and consultant Schmidt Hammer Lassen and American artist James Turrell will be completing the inside of the project and the artwork.

Press images may be freely be downloaded and used with due credit lines.
Photo: Mads Smidstrup © ARoS 2024

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