Playing with Heart – A Day for Stefan Kraus

On 1 January 2026, Stefan Kraus will retire after 34 years as curator at Kolumba. During this time – 17 of which he spent as director – he has had a decisive influence on the museum's content and structure and made it visible far beyond Cologne. Kolumba will honour his many years of service with a programm of events on 19 December 2025. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can expect a diverse range of events that reflect Stefan Kraus' interests and passions. Playing with Heart is based on play and the heart – two motifs that characterise his approach as an art mediator: Through play, he has repeatedly challenged himself and us to explore possibilities and to deal with objects and content subjectively and freely. The heart stands for the passion with which he has helped to design and run the museum.
In order to give all of the approximately 20-minute contributions sufficient space, the museum will open at 11 a.m. on this day, one hour earlier than usual.
Instead of the usual museum admission fee, visitors are asked to make a voluntary donation of their choice. The programm will be published her on 18 December 2025 so that our gift to Stefan Kraus remains a surprise for as long as possible.

Programm (will be published on 18 December 2025)