Cate Blanchett: "Can't muzzle art" - Cate Blanchett and Chanel shine at Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof 30th anniversary gala
Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof museum celebrated its 30th anniversary with a star-studded gala, A Night in Berlin. The event honoured private donors and showcased the museum's growing ties with luxury brand Chanel. Among the guests was Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett, who spoke passionately about the importance of art in society.
The gala brought together prominent figures from film, art, and culture. Cate Blanchett attended with her son, Ignatius, while other guests included Matt Dillon, Nina Hoss, and director Wim Wenders. The evening featured a lavish programme of performances followed by a formal dinner.
Four new awards were introduced, each worth €15,000, to support emerging German artists under 35. Lebanese artist Mona Hatoum received a lifetime achievement honour, and Indian collector Kiran Nadar was also recognised. Blanchett, who starred in the museum's 2016 film installation *Manifesto*, reiterated her support for the arts, declaring, *'We cannot switch off art. We cannot silence it.'* The partnership between Hamburger Bahnhof and Chanel has already funded key initiatives. Directors Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath highlighted new financial support for education, public engagement, and special exhibitions. The Chanel Commission will back Lina Lapelytė's upcoming show, *We Make Years Out of Hours*, running from May 2026 to January 2027 in the museum's Historic Hall.
The gala marked a milestone for the Hamburger Bahnhof, reinforcing its financial stability through private backing. With Chanel's support, the museum now has additional resources for exhibitions, education, and artist development. The event also celebrated the museum's role as a cultural hub, attracting international attention and high-profile supporters.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
