Magasin III Museum for Contemporary Art was founded in 1987 to fill a gap. A private institution with a mission to make the best of contemporary art available to a broad public. Through ambitious presentations of internationally established artists, Magasin III has become one of the most important institutions in Sweden for contemporary art.

Magasin III believes that art has the ability to challenge and inspire individuals and society. That is why we have supported the arts since our inception, providing exhibiting artists with the opportunity to produce new works that influence, engage, and question. Our exhibitions are at the core of our ever-growing collection of works by artists relevant to our time.

Magasin III has become one of the leading institutions of contemporary art in Europe. For over 35 years, we have also lent works from our collection to museums around the world. Located since the beginning in a former warehouse in Frihamnen, the former Free Port of Stockholm. Between fall 2017 and fall 2020, the public program was closed in order to shape the future Magasin III.

Intermission, 2017–2020

In 2017, Magasin III Museum for Contemporary Art needed to take a step back and create space for new ideas. From 2017 to 2020, we paused our public program to reshape the museum for the future. In October 2020, we were finally able to welcome visitors back to a partially revisioned Magasin III.

Looking back at the many art experiences we have shared with you during our first 30 years and delving into our archives has been an important part of looking forward. Questions we asked ourselves were: What has changed since Magasin III started? What do we feel is missing in the art world today, both nationally and internationally? How can Magasin III best continue to support artists and their work?

Our visitor model at the museum means that, in addition to current exhibitions, our audience gets to be part of the processes around upcoming exhibitions and the creation of new works. Personal encounters and in-depth exploration are guiding principles in this new direction. With this model, we want to share the work that moves art from the mind of the artist into the world.

Tessa Praun
Museum Director & Chief Curator

Advisory board

David Neuman, Chairman Magasin III
Robert Weil, Chairman Proventus AB and Family Robert Weil Foundation
Sandra Weil, Freelance Curator, Tel Aviv
Lars Nilsson, Artist, Stockholm
Ann-Sofi Noring, curator and former Deputy Director Moderna Museet, Stockholm
Richard Julin, Artistic Director Accelerator at Stockholms university
Tessa Praun, Museum Director & Chief Curator Magasin III (adjunct)

Magasin III Jaffa

On January 20, 2018, Magasin III Jaffa opened its doors for the first time with zerubbabel – a solo exhibition with Israel-born American artist Haim Steinbach. The exhibition marks the launch of a diverse program that will feature both international and local artists in Jaffa, greater Tel Aviv. Magasin III Jaffa is located on 34 Olei Zion a residential neighborhood that borders with Jaffa’s famous flea market at the center of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim populations of Jaffa. The site was chosen for its location as well as architectural qualities.

The space has been carefully planned so that exhibitions can be viewed at any time of the day or night, curated with a special emphasis on also being viewed from the outside.
David Neuman, Chairman Magasin III.

The Director of Magasin III Jaffa, Karmit Galili, says: This is a truly exciting addition to our city. The satellite defines Magasin III’s longstanding involvement with the cultural scene in Israel. The area where Magasin III Jaffa is located has a rich and mixed history and we are very much looking forward to contributing to it and engaging with new audiences.

Read more about Magasin III Jaffa here.

Magasin III’s commitment to the Curating art program at Stockholm University has existed from the very beginning—planning the program was personally an incredibly important phase in my life. It is with an overwhelming degree of pride that I see all these promising curators working in the cultural sector today. Many of ”our” curators have become colleagues, dear friends, and not least strong visionaries for our profession. An ongoing success story…
David Neuman, Chairman of Magasin III and one of the founders of the Curating Art program.

Information from Stockholm University:
The international Master programme Curating Art is a two-year curatorial education established and developed in 2003 as a joint enterprise between Stockholm University at the Department of Art History and managed through a systematic collaboration with affiliated curators, mainly at Magasin III Museum for Contemporary Art. Its full name – Curating Art: International Master Programme in Curating Art, including Management and Law – reflects the curator’s internationalised, professional role and job market. With this as starting point, we wish to focus on the presentation and understanding of art and art exhibitions, including aspects connected to management, organization, institutional frameworks, and legal issues.

Read detailed course description, prerequisites and application directions here.

Accelerator

Accelerator is an exhibition space for art, science, and societal issues with a mission to engage actively with society.

The exhibition space opened to the public in September 2019 and presents international and Swedish contemporary art at Stockholm University in the Manne Siegbahn laboratory. Accelerator produces exhibitions, screenings, talks, and interdisciplinary projects connecting the humanities, social science and science departments.

Accelerator emerged from a long-standing and successful collaboration with Magasin III, within the MA programme in Curating Art at Stockholm University. Accelerator was initiated by David Neuman, former museum director and current chair of Magasin III, and Margaretha Thomson, professor emeritus of art history. In 2015, the vice-chancellor of Stockholm University, Astrid Söderbergh Widding, officially founded Accelerator and the activities were launched. Magasin III and The Robert Weil Family Foundation are Founding Patrons. Richard Julin is the Artistic Director at Accelerator.

Read more about Accelerator here.