Centre Albert Anker

The visitor reception area is located in the former barn of the Anker House, which is the starting point for the journey into Anker's world. The permanent exhibition on two floors shows the artist's life and work in thematic chapters. Guided tours provide access to the historic apartment and the studio in the attic, which has been preserved in its original condition.

Permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition in Albert Anker's former home presents the artist's life and work in thematic chapters. The man and artist are presented both in his home village of Ins in Bern and in the national and international context of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In a series of alcoves, numerous exciting and surprising stages of his life are documented, from the Anker family and his companions to Anker's interest in education, history, and technology.

The permanent exhibition is bilingual, supported by audiovisual media, self-explanatory, and can be visited individually.

Special exhibition in the art pavilion

"Welcome Home. Donations to the Centre Albert Anker Foundation"

The Albert Anker-Haus Ins Foundation was founded in 1994 and has since received numerous significant donations. Many of these objects – paintings, watercolours, drawings, sketchbooks, letters, and individual historical items from Anker’s environment – were in private hands for decades and were hardly accessible to the public until now.

The exhibition shows donations from the family’s legacy, follows the sometimes winding paths of individual works back to Ins, the place of their creation, and sheds light on their stories. Presented in thematic groups, selected new acquisitions are related to existing collection pieces to make their art and cultural historical contexts visible.

The exhibition is a welcome to the latest additions to the collection and at the same time an opportunity to look back on over three decades of committed foundation work.

The public opening will take place on Friday, 29 May 2026, at 17.00 hours.

The special exhibition runs from Saturday, 30 May, to Sunday, 25 October 2026, and is open to the public. Hours of operation are Friday through Sunday from 11.00 to 17.00 hours.

Visit the historic residence and authentic studio

A tour of the residence provides an insight into the bourgeois lifestyle of the Anker family, with most of the original interior furnishings still in place. One of the attractions is the unique studio in the attic, which has remained almost unchanged. It is one of the last authentic 19th-century artists' studios in Europe.

The residence and studio can only be visited on a guided tour.

The number of participants on a guided tour is limited to 15 people. Afterwards, visitors can explore the permanent exhibition and, during the high season (June to October), the special exhibition on their own.

The Centre Albert Anker is open for individual visits from March to November, Friday to Sunday from 11.00 to 17.00 hours. Public tours take place on these days at 11.30 and 13.30 hours. We welcome groups from Tuesday to Thursday for exclusive tours.

Opening hours

Fri–Sun   11.00–17.00 hours

High season from May

The high season begins with the start of the special exhibition on 30 May 2026.

Winter

Due to its construction, the Centre Albert Anker is closed during the cold winter months from December to February.

  
Further information on seasonal availability can be found here.

Subject to change without prior notice