Hinz&Kunzt

The Homeless Gallery

Hinz & Kunzt

Non profit

Awareness

30 years of Hinz&Kunzt. 30 life stories. 30 works of art.

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Germany's leading street newspaper Hinz&Kunzt is calling on Hamburg's citizens and especially its politicians to pay more attention to the problem of homelessness. And to do something about the decline in donations.

We are all feeling the effects of the current crises—especially the poorest among us. But a paradoxically record-breaking art market has led us to turn homeless people into artists. So that they can also benefit from art. Hinz&Kunzt vendors became Hinz&Kunzt artists. And their stories became real art. The homeless told their stories. And with the help of AI and the expertise of the Hamburger Kunsthalle, these stories were transformed into moving art.

Jörn Sturm, Managing Director of the Hamburg street magazine Hinz&Kunzt, opened the vernissage of the Homeless Gallery.

With these works we have transformed Hamburg into a gallery like no other. The opening event, to which politicians, the press and the artists themselves were invited, marked the beginning. Like the exhibitions that followed, the opening took place in a public space. The artworks could be viewed under an tram bridge, and speeches were made and music played. After that, 12 more locations were transformed into the Homeless Gallery. We used social media and DOOH advertising to guide people to the venues.

Around 150 guests attended the grand opening of the Homeless Gallery under the tram bridge in Hamburg-Hammerbrook.

The result was a completely new and, in the best sense of the word, unusual campaign that succeeded in standing out from the usual media clutter and generated positive attention. A new kind of gallery without a home—just like its homeless artists—and makes their world visible. Personal. Poignant. Immediate. Straight to the heart.

Several of the Hinz&Kunzt artists at the vernissage with Jörn Sturm, Managing Director of Hinz&Kunzt, and Dr Alexander Klar, Director of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.

The Homeless Gallery: 30 years of Hinz&Kunzt. 30 life stories. 30 works of art.

The Homeless Gallery on the road in Hamburg: Places where the homeless find a place to sleep become places of art.

QR codes direct visitors to the website, where they can donate and learn more about Hinz&Kunzt, the artists and their art.

The outcome:

Over 100,000 people visited the various exhibition venues and events. In total, we generated 87.3 million media impressions and over 315 clippings and press mentions. The final auction raised €42,000 in donations. More importantly, people spoke with the artists and the Homeless Gallery raised awareness about the issue of homelessness.