Thanks to an exciting, diverse, and positively received exhibition programme, impressive visitor statistics and attractive commercial offers, ARoS’ financial statements for 2023 testify to stable finances and ambitious investments.  

The museum earns a small surplus of approximately DKK 0.5 million, which fulfils the expectations of the management and board.  

“I am pleased to see that we are meeting our ambitious target, and that in 2023 ARoS yet again exceeded the previous year’s annual visitor numbers. It's also important for me to thank our partners and sponsors and the many foundations that support us. Without their generous support, we would not have achieved this result,” says museum director and CEO, Rebecca Matthews.  

In 2023, ARoS attracted 536,000 visitors, which is 22,000 more than 2022. The figures include all who presented a ticket or annual pass to enter the museum. In total, close to 625,000 visitors entered the museum for an ARoS experience. 

The annual accounts also show that ARoS’ commercial departments have achieved solid results for 2023 and that visitors are spending more money than before when they visit the museum.  

Prominent new art acquisitions

“The positive earnings in 2023 allow ARoS’ to invest in major works of art for our audiences. Among other artists, we’ve expanded the ARoS collection with a very special work by the renowned American artist Jenny Holzer. This acquisition is of major importance to ARoS, as Holzer is one of the most significant female artists of the postmodernist generation,” says Rebecca Matthews. 

The Next Level is proceeding according to plan 

In 2023, ARoS and Aarhus Municipality hosted the topping-out ceremony for the major expansion project The Next Level when the dome for the gigantic work of art The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell was completed in September. On this occasion, an additional generous donation from the Salling Foundation towards a new artistic addition of a lid to the dome was also announced. 

Construction is progressing according to plan, and The Next Level is expected to open in the summer of 2025.  

“The realisation of The Next Level will set completely new standards for ARoS and for Aarhus. The project has been underway for more than a decade, and its opening is now within reach – not least thanks to the political backing and generous financial support that ARoS has received in recent years,” says board chair Laura Hay Uggla.