ARKEN is a great and monumental building situated in the artificial landscape, Køge Bay Beach, a short drive or train ride south of Copenhagen. With its collections, art exhibitions and architecture, ARKEN has won recognition both at home and abroad since its inauguration in 1996. You can experience one of Scandinavia's finest collections of contemporary art. Art which is about you, the life you live and the communities and societies of which you are a part. The museum also presents several different exhibitions each year with modern Danish, Nordic and international art, both the great classics and brand-new names. In spring 2016, ARKEN opened The Island of Art – a landscape of bridges, lagoons and dunes, welcoming visitors to a museum surrounded by water.
The museum building is an attraction in itself. The building – designed by architect Søren Robert Lund – with its pointed prow jutting out into the landscape, resembles a stranded ship a few meters from the water. The museum is located in scenic surroundings between Ishøj Harbour and the long sandy beach, so a visit to the museum is not complete without a walk along the dunes and beach.
On the side of the architect-designed museum building is ARKEN's café, where the beautiful nature flows in through large panoramic windows overlooking Køge Bay. In addition to the café, the building also houses the museum shop, which offers a mix of Nordic design, art books and delicious gift items.
