Meet the Barberini Art Club – by Young People, for Young People
Museum Barberini
As we mark our 10th anniversary in December 2025, we continue to highlight the people and projects that shape the Foundation’s ecosystem and the ambition that drives them.
Today, we turn to Museum Barberini, known for its stunning exhibitions and the Hasso Plattner Collection, presenting 115 masterpieces of Impressionism. With 40 paintings by Claude Monet at the Barberini, Potsdam is second only to Paris in Europe. Since 2017, the museum has welcomed more than 2.6 million visitors and has become a household name nationally and internationally.
In 2024, the museum introduced the Barberini Art Club, a new initiative launched by young people, for young people. One of its co-founders, Benedicta von Wissmann, tells us how it all started and how it is going.
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Credit: David von Becker
Hi Benedicta, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m 24 and currently studying Museum Management and Communications in Berlin. Museums have always been part of my life – I loved visiting them with friends as a teenager. After studying special needs education, I realized I wanted to help shape museum experiences from the inside, especially for young audiences.
In early 2024, I interned at Museum Barberini’s Education team. That internship turned into a role as a Museum Guide and in August, along with two friends and colleagues, we founded the Barberini Art Club.
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Barberini Art Club
What sparked the idea?
We noticed a gap. Usually, museums have wonderful programs for kids and families. But teens and young adults often go unaddressed. We wanted to create a space where people aged 17 to 30 could feel welcome, inspired, and involved. That’s what the Art Club is about.
What has happened since you launched it?
We’ve held more than ten workshops so far, all of which were in high demand. The energy and vibe were amazing! Seeing people connect, share, and return – it’s the best kind of motivation.
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Barberini Art Club
When the going gets tough and the road ahead feels uncertain, what keeps you going?
Honestly, it’s the people. Every workshop brings fresh faces and unique ideas. It’s exciting to help shape how our generation experiences art.
A favorite moment so far?
Our first workshop. The response was overwhelming – in the best way. It made all the planning worth it and gave us confidence to keep building.
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Barberini Art Club
What is your hope for the future decade?
That more young people see museums not as quiet places full of rules – but as places of energy, creativity, and community.
Any advice for others with bold ideas, like yours?
Show up. Talk to people. Try things. That’s how we started, and that’s how ideas grow.
Thank you, Benedicta.
Then to Now: Stories that Shaped Us
For our anniversary, we are sharing stories from across our ecosystem – snapshots of the people and ideas that drive them. New stories will appear on our anniversary page between July and December 2025. We invite you to follow along – and perhaps, find inspiration of your own.
