The latest updates from our ecosystem

DAS MINSK: 5 September 2026 - 7 February 2027

This fall, DAS MINSK will present a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to Annemirl Bauer (1939–1989). Through paintings, drawings, collages, and objects, the exhibition highlights Bauer, an artist long excluded from the artistic canon, as a critical and independent voice from the GDR. As a champion of social justice and challenger of the repressive policies of the SED, Bauer's work is a testimony to her uncompromising vision as a painter and acute observer.

The Hasso Plattner Foundation has appointed Dr. Daniela Gerd tom Markotten as Managing Director Partnerships & Transfer at the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI). She will take up the role on 1 August 2026, joining HPI’s leadership team alongside Prof. Tobias Friedrich and Dr. Henrik Haenecke. 

Museum Barberini, 4 July – 11 October 2026

In the mid 1880s, a new style of painting by Paul Signac (1863–1935) and Georges Seurat (1859–1891) was introduced upon the legacy of Impressionism: the application of vibrant colors in short brushstrokes and dots. As an artist, Signac was dedicated to capturing radiance and harmony in his work spanning waterside landscapes to interior scenes and portraits. As a theorist and networker, he played a pivotal role in expanding the Neo-Impressionist movement beyond France. Paintings by Lucie Cousturier, Henri-Edmond Cross, Curt Herrmann, Maximilien Luce, Camille Pissarro, Théo van Rysselberghe, Jeanne Selmersheim-Desgrange, Georges Seurat and others are presented in dialogue with works by Signac.

Since June 27, the sculpture Apron, 2024, by South African artist William Kentridge is open to the public on the terraces of the Brauhausberg. As a symbol of the importance of interpersonal communication, collaborative effort, and artistic exchange, the sculpture serves as a new link in the visual axis between DAS MINSK, the Brauhausberg, and the city center.

A public art project by the Hasso Plattner Foundation in cooperation with DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam.

Preparations for the construction of a new campus for the University of Potsdam on Brauhausberg and the expansion of the Hasso Plattner Institute at Griebnitzsee are proceeding on schedule. The Task Force met on May 20 under the leadership of Minister–President Dr. Dietmar Woidke and Founder Hasso Plattner for its fourth meeting. For more information please see the press release.

Remember, Reframe, Rethink, Resolve, Regenerate.

Guided by these lenses, the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town will reflect on its last ten years, and look towards the future, with a landmark Afrikan Design Thinking Convening from June 1-3, 2026. The event will bring together leaders, practitioners and emerging voices from across the design thinking ecosystem in Afrika and beyond. A key moment of the convening will be the launch of the Afrikan Chapter of the Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA) - a step toward strengthening continental collaboration and amplifying Afrikan perspectives within global design thinking communities. Register now for the online sessions.

The MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD), MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), and Hasso Plattner Foundation celebrated the launch of the MIT and HPI AI and Creativity Hub (MHACH) on 18 March 2026. This long-term initiative aims to deepen ties between computing and design as advances in AI are reshaping how ideas are conceived and shared.  

The State of Brandenburg, the University of Potsdam, the Hasso Plattner Foundation and the City of Potsdam are working intensively with other key stakeholders on plans for the construction of a new campus for the University of Potsdam on Brauhausberg. At the same time, the State government is preparing amendments to the Brandenburg Higher Education Law to accelerate appointment procedures for professorships and to simplify student admissions.

Museum Barberini, 28 February – 7 June 2026

The painting that emerged in France in the 1860s was marked by intense, glowing colors and energetic, sketch-like brushwork. With Max Liebermann (1847–1935) as its pioneer, this revolutionary new approach also set the tone for the avant-garde in the German Empire from the 1870s on. Artists explored a wide range of motifs, from sundrenched landscapes and atmospheric figural scenes to meticulously arranged still lifes.

From 14.03.2026 renowned contemporary artist Oscar Murillo will take over the spaces at DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam with his project Collective Osmosis, a celebration of mark-making creating moments of exchange between his paintings, installation works, and the work of Claude Monet.

Following the success of its inaugural edition, Prof. Dr. Ariel Dora Stern and Prof. Dr. Lothar Wieler will host the second HPI Digital Health Innovation Forum on March 25 & 26, 2026, continuing its mission to foster collaboration in research, policy, and digital health business leadership and to fortify the digital transformation of healthcare globally.

The Foundation is pleased to announce that Tom van der Zee joined Sabine Plattner African Charities as Managing Director on 1 January 2026. Tom brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in education across South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, and England. He has served as CEO of several educational institutions, including Oxbridge Academy and the University of Africa in Zambia. His expertise spans strategy, institutional management, and expanding access to quality education for low-income households. In addition to his experience in education, Tom has a strong commitment to conservation and empowering rural communities. He has managed complex stakeholder environments both in start-up and in mature organizations.

This is a space for HPI d-school alumni and friends to gather, learn, and grow together, online and across borders. Whether you’re exploring your first AI tools or already prototyping with GPTs, this community is here to share, inspire, and support your journey.

25 October 2025 - 01 February 2026
The unicorn has stimulated the imagination like no other animal. It has been documented in many cultures for centuries. Its fascination continues to this day. The mythical animal is a multi-facetted symbol that emanates associative energy.
The exhibition brings together nearly 150 works spanning a period of approximately 4,000 years, including paintings, drawings, prints, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, and tapestries. On display are works by artists such as Arnold Böcklin, Albrecht Dürer, Angela Hampel, Gustave Moreau, Joachim Sandrart and Marie Cecile Thijs.

The artwork Der Botanische Garten [engl. The Botanical Garden], a large-scale mural by Robin Rhode, was commissioned by the Hasso Plattner Foundation in 2025. The project was realized in cooperation with DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam and Stadtwerke Potsdam. With their joint efforts, the unique view from DAS MINSK over the city of Potsdam is being recreated, offering Potsdam’s residents and visitors a new opportunity to engage with art and culture at the Brauhausberg.

Teachers from 30 pilot primary schools, along with their Senior Education Officers and Principals, took part in workshops on how to use the SPAC EduConservation materials and active learning methodologies.

In September, Embark in Knowledge, along with Living Maths and Western Cape Department of Education, hosted retired NASA astronaut Commander Susan Kilrain. Kilrain inspired a hall full of local high school and primary school learners to take a different attitude towards maths and science for exciting career paths. 

The Hasso Plattner Foundation has appointed Dr. Henrik Haenecke as Managing Director of Finance and Administration at HPI, effective October 1, 2025. He succeeds Dr. Marcus Kölling, who left the institute on April 30, 2025.

6 September 2025 - 8 February 2025
In fall 2025, DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam presents the exhibition Wohnkomplex: Art and Life in Plattenbau. In this exhibition, guest curator Kito Nedo explores the question of how East German Plattenbau complexes are represented in art.

The Hasso Plattner Foundation has appointed Dr. Ben Illigens as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Data4Life. He succeeds Christian Weiss, who has shaped the development phase of Data4Life since 2017 and will continue to advise the organization in a consulting role.

The Museum Barberini, the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, and Navigating.art announce "Networks of Impressionism," a collaborative digital endeavor that improves how we research, explore, and experience the stories of Impressionist art within its multifaceted context. This project combines the Museum Barberini's research on works in the Hasso Plattner Collection with the Wildenstein Plattner Institute's scholarly expertise and digital archives, built on Navigating.art's technology. The result is a digital resource that serves scholars while also supporting art education and international collaboration. The platform is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2026 in conjunction with the exhibition "Networks of Impressionism" at the Museum Barberini.

A game where children from across the globe can find a place to be themselves and learn about others. All our histories, all our mythologies, all our stories, make up the living fabric of World of Us.

A Decade of Making a Difference

Strong development boost for the science location Brandenburg and the science hub Potsdam: University of Potsdam to receive a new campus on the Brauhausberg / Hasso Plattner Institute to be significantly expanded at Griebnitzsee. State of Brandenburg, Hasso Plattner Foundation and University of Potsdam sign declaration.

Hasso Plattner Foundation appoints Anna Schneider as the Director of DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam.