Kunsthalle Friart is a contemporary art centre housed in a former cardboard factory in Fribourg’s old town. Here you can discover temporary exhibitions that combine visual art, performance and music.
Fine and applied arts museums
Main highlights
- Contemporary art exhibitions produced together with the artists, including David Hammons and Thomas Hirschhorn
- Former 19th-century factory converted into an exhibition space in the old town
- Specialist bookshop at the reception, with catalogues, monographs and artists’ books
Overview
The idea of a contemporary art centre in Fribourg grew out of the success of the Fri-Art 81 exhibition, held in 1981 to mark 500 years since the canton joined the Swiss Confederation. The Fri-Art association, founded by Michel Ritter, opened the Kunsthalle on 10 November 1990.
In 1991, the centre moved to Petites-Rames 22, a former 19th-century cardboard factory. Located between Switzerland’s language regions, Friart bridges the French- and German-speaking art scenes. The centre is known for producing works together with artists rather than simply showing them.
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What to see and do
The Kunsthalle presents several temporary exhibitions each year, blending visual art, performance and music. Many projects are developed on site in direct collaboration with the artists, and the building’s industrial spaces house these installations.
Friart staged the first solo exhibitions of artists who went on to gain recognition, such as Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Latifa Echakhch, Valentin Carron, Steven Parrino and David Hammons. It has also shown Renée Green, Julia Scher, Thomas Hirschhorn, Mark Dion, Cameron Rowland and Ketty La Rocca, as well as research-based exhibitions, for example on Swiss experimental cinema.
The bookshop at the reception offers catalogues, artists’ novels, monographs, theoretical works and magazines. Talks, discussions and guided tours complement the exhibitions.
Practical information
Getting there : in the old town, opposite the swimming pool, by funicular or bus no. 4 towards Auge, stop Neuveville/Motta. Paid parking nearby.
Visitors : an outreach programme is offered for schools and upper-secondary classes.
Accessibility : the reception and exhibitions are accessible by stairs only; the venue is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
On site : bookshop.
Visiting tips
The centre closes between exhibitions to install new projects. Check the programme before you go to find out what is on.
Allow some time for the bookshop, where you can extend your visit with publications related to the exhibited artists.
Nearby
- St. Nicholas Cathedral in Fribourg is a Flamboyant Gothic building with a 74-metre tower.
- The Espace Jean Tinguely & Niki de Saint Phalle displays kinetic art and Nouveau Réalisme works.
- The Loreto Chapel, built in the 17th century on a hill, offers views over the old town.
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