URBAN NATION

What URBAN NATION does

URBAN NATION is a Berlin-based non-profit museum and international institution dedicated to Urban Contemporary Art, Street Art and Graffiti. Established in 2013 as an initiative of Stiftung Berliner Leben — itself founded by the housing company Gewobag AG — the institution opened its permanent museum at Bülowstraße 7 in Berlin-Schöneberg in September 2017, designed by the architectural firm GRAFT. The museum serves a mixed audience of walk-in local, national and international visitors, professional European artists (through the Fresh A.I.R. residency), researchers and journalists (via the Martha Cooper Library, opened November 2021), and corporate event clients who rent on-site venues. The institution is free to enter and operates largely on donations, grants and parent-foundation funding.

The institution's core products are organised around four on-site venues in the Bülowstraße corridor — the museum floor (approximately 500 sqm of open-plan exhibition space with suspended bridges and an asphalt floor), the Attic Studio, the Project Space (Bülowstraße 97), and the Werkstatt workshop (Bülowstraße 96) — plus a portfolio of programs: the Fresh A.I.R. artist-in-residence scholarships (up to 13 European scholars per year, each on a 10-month residency in 11 on-site studios), ONE WALL and Stadtraum!Plus public mural programs, the Community Wall series, the Martha Cooper Library research collection (browsable via its own OPAC), and a digital Mediaguide for visitors. Technology integrations include a WordPress website, a self-hosted Matomo analytics instance, PayPal payment processing, Google Maps / YouTube / Web Fonts embeds, and a separate Open OPAC catalogue; the museum also operates an EU-wide online merchandise shop (shop.urban-nation.com) via PayPal with weight-based shipping.

The business model is non-profit and donation-led. Primary revenue streams are voluntary donations (collected at an in-counter donation pillar and a digital donation column at the entrance, plus PayPal at paypal.me/berlinerleben and bank transfer, with receipts issued from €200), venue and event rentals for corporate clients (Museum event floor up to 150 guests; Attic Studio, Project Space and Werkstatt for smaller events), merchandise sales through the EU shop, and institutional grants channelled through Stiftung Berliner Leben and Gewobag AG. The institution positions free admission and donations as the deliberate counter to the ephemeral, vulnerable nature of street art, and extends its footprint through city-wide mural programs and community partnerships such as the Süd Ost Galerie in Schöneweide.

Name

URBAN NATION

Legal name

Stiftung Berliner Leben, Gemeinnützige Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts

Website

https://urban-nation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

URBAN NATION is a Berlin-based non-profit museum dedicated to Urban Contemporary Art, Street Art, and Graffiti. Operated by Stiftung Berliner Leben, it serves visitors, European artists, researchers, and corporate clients through exhibitions, an artist residency, a specialized library, and community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Voluntary donations: Voluntary visitor donations are the primary funding mechanism (admission is free of charge). Accepts in-counter cash/contactless donations at the museum and donations via PayPal (paypal.me/berlinerleben), bank transfer, and physical donation pillar at the entrance. Donation receipts issued from €200.
2. Venue / event rentals: Rental of museum spaces (Museum floor 420 sqm up to 150 guests), Attic Studio (up to 50 standing / 30 seated), Projektraum at Bülowstraße 97 (up to 80), and Werkstatt at Bülowstraße 96 (up to 20) for corporate events, dinners, presentations and creative workshops; optional add-ons for catering, furniture and technical equipment.
3. Online shop (merchandise): URBAN NATION online shop (shop.urban-nation.com) sells merchandise (prints, posters, apparel) to consumers in Germany and selected EU countries; weights-based shipping (Germany 5.90–10.90 €; EU 17.00–32.00 €), PayPal payment, 14-day right of withdrawal. Note: shop was in maintenance mode at source date.
4. Grants & foundation funding: Long-term institutional funding via the non-profit Stiftung Berliner Leben (founded by Gewobag AG). Funds Fresh A.I.R. artist scholarships and programs. Berliner Leben Foundation is a tax-recognized non-profit under civil law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

URBAN NATION runs a free-admission museum for Urban Contemporary Art, Street Art and Graffiti at Bülowstraße 7 in Berlin-Schöneberg, complemented by the Martha Cooper Library (specialized Urban Art research library), the Fresh A.I.R. artist-in-residence scholarship program, the ONE WALL / Stadtraum!Plus / Community Wall public-mural programs, recurring workshops, and an EU-wide online merchandise shop. Supplementary revenue comes from venue and event rentals of the Museum floor, Attic Studio, Projektraum and Werkstatt for corporate events, dinners and creative workshops.

Product overview

URBAN NATION operates as a single integrated cultural institution rather than a multi-product SaaS platform. Its core offering is the URBAN NATION Museum for Urban Contemporary Art in Berlin, around which a portfolio of named programs and facilities is organized: the Martha Cooper Library for research, the Fresh A.I.R. artist-in-residence program, the ONE WALL, Stadtraum!Plus, and Community Wall public-art initiatives that extend the museum's work into the city, an Online Shop for merchandise, the URBAN NATION Mediaguide digital product for visitors, and three on-site venues (Attic Studio, Projektraum, and Werkstatt) used for events, smaller exhibitions, and workshops. Together these programs, venues, and digital services constitute the institution's overall offering around urban contemporary art.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh A.I.R. (Artist-in-Residence): Artist-in-residence scholarship programme in Berlin awarding grants to European artists working in Urban and New Contemporary Art, run by Stiftung Berliner Leben. Up to 13 scholars per cohort for a 10-month stay.
• Martha Cooper Library (MCL)
• URBAN NATION Project Space
• ONE WALL
• URBAN NATION Attic Studio

Products and services

• URBAN NATION Museum for Urban Contemporary Art Flagship free-admission institution at Bülowstraße 7, Berlin-Schöneberg, dedicated to Urban Contemporary Art; houses rotating exhibitions (e.g., Love Letters to the City 2024–2027), the Martha Cooper Library, the Fresh A.I.R. artist-in-residence studios, the Attic Studio event space, on-site donation infrastructure, and a digital donation column. Open Tue–Sun; admission free of charge.
• Martha Cooper Library (MCL) Specialized research library inside the URBAN NATION Museum dedicated to Urban Art, Street Art and Graffiti literature since the 1960s, with an online OPAC catalogue at open.urban-nation.com, user accounts and a closed-stack request workflow into the reading room; hosts the 'MCL presents' talk series with featured speakers including Martha Cooper, MadC and Bill Posters. Library leadership headed by Dr. Hans-Michael Brey; daily operations by Librarian Eveline Wilson.
• Fresh A.I.R. Artist-in-Residence Scholarship Program Annual scholarship awarded by Stiftung Berliner Leben to European artists and cultural professionals in Urban and New Contemporary Art, providing time, space and resources to develop an artistic project within a given thematic complex. Up to 13 scholars per cohort, each resident for 10 months, with live/work studios inside the museum building and integration into Berlin's cultural life via workshops and events.
• ONE WALL Program Commissioning program for large-scale murals by international artists on selected façades in Berlin, extending the museum's work into the public sphere; ongoing since the founding of URBAN NATION in 2013.
• Stadtraum!Plus Public art initiative partnering with Berlin property owners to install and maintain permanent artworks on building façades throughout the city, with a focus on neighborhood identity and participatory community creation (e.g., Jim Avignon murals at Kraepelinweg and Spektefeld in Falkenhagener Feld, June 2026). Co-run with Berliner Leben Foundation and Gewobag.
• Community Wall Program Artist-curated community mural projects (e.g., Jim Avignon multi-location murals across Berlin in 2026) created in collaboration with neighborhood families and Outreach Club youth as part of the Stadtraum!Plus program.
• URBAN NATION Online Shop Official e-commerce storefront (shop.urban-nation.com) selling museum merchandise, prints, posters and apparel to consumers in Germany and most EU member states, with PayPal payment and weight-based shipping (Germany €5.90–€10.90; EU €17.00–€32.00); 14-day right of withdrawal; returns handled via Nordkurier Logistik Berlin.
• URBAN NATION Mediaguide Digital multimedia guide (mediaguide.urban-nation.com) offered to museum visitors as an accompaniment to current exhibitions, such as Love Letters to the City.
• Event Venue Rentals (Museum floor, Attic Studio, Projektraum, Werkstatt) Rental of URBAN NATION's on-site venues for corporate events, dinners, presentations, product launches and creative workshops: Museum event floor (420 sqm, up to 150 guests), Attic Studio (up to 50 standing / 30 seated), Projektraum at Bülowstraße 97 (up to 80), and Werkstatt at Bülowstraße 96 (up to 20). Optional add-ons for catering, furniture and technical equipment; quote-based pricing on request via [email protected].
• Love Letters to the City Exhibition Long-running group exhibition (14 September 2024 – 30 May 2027) exploring the relationship between street art and the city, with nine thematic chapters and 50+ artists including Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Lady Pink, Blek le Rat, Bordalo II, Martha Cooper, Kenny Scharf, Vhils, Crash, Moses & Taps, Rocco and his brothers, and Jazoo Yang / OMA BUNKER; curated by Michelle Houston.
• The Urban Skin Exhibition (Pietro Ruffo / Jan Bauer) Exhibition at the URBAN NATION Project Space (Bülowstraße 97) featuring large-format works by Pietro Ruffo and a sculptural installation by Jan Bauer, running 4 July – 18 October 2026, under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Berlin.
• Urban Nation Street Art Map (online) Searchable online street art map (urban-nation.com/art-map) of works by artists affiliated with the URBAN NATION program, integrated with an artists database for browsing Urban Contemporary Art works across Berlin.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosts exhibitions featuring 50+ artists per show (e.g., Love Letters to the City).
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — parent organization, core, minor and flagship.

• Stiftung Berliner Leben (Berliner Leben Foundation)flagship — parent organizationStrategic or Co-development PartnerURBAN NATION is an initiative of the non-profit Stiftung Berliner Leben, founded by Gewobag AG. The foundation funds and operates URBAN NATION and co-runs participatory community programs such as Stadtraum!Plus. Foundation address: Alt-Moabit 101 A, 10559 Berlin.
• Gewobag AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGewobag AG founded Stiftung Berliner Leben and therefore underpins URBAN NATION's institutional and financial base. Co-funds neighborhood murals in Falkenhagener Feld and is represented on the foundation board by Sven Harke-Kajuth.
• GRAFT (Berlin architectural firm)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBerlin architectural firm that redesigned the museum building at Bülowstraße 7 after one year of construction prior to its September 2017 opening. Delivered the modular facade, open-plan 500 sqm exhibition space with suspended bridges and asphalt flooring, plus the 11 integrated artist residencies in the upper floors.
• Michelle HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurator of the exhibition 'LOVE LETTERS TO THE CITY' at URBAN NATION Museum (opened 13 September 2024, running through 30 May 2027). Curated nine thematic chapters featuring 50+ international and Berlin-based artists and is the public-facing creative lead quoted in press materials.
• Embassy of Italy in BerlinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided official patronage for the exhibition 'THE URBAN SKIN' by Pietro Ruffo / Jan Bauer at the URBAN NATION Project Space (4 July – 18 October 2026).
• Martha Cooper (photojournalist)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding contributor of the Martha Cooper Library at URBAN NATION (opened November 2021) via donation and permanent loans of publications and archive material on Urban Art, Street Art and Graffiti. Participates as a featured speaker in 'MCL Presents' talks. Library leadership is headed by Dr. Hans-Michael Brey.
• Brooklyn Street Art (BSA — Steven P. Harrington & Jaime Rojo)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEditorial partner that co-hosts the recurring 'MCL Presents' talk series at URBAN NATION (with Martha Cooper, MadC, Bill Posters) and writes recurring book reviews for the Martha Cooper Library blog. Co-visited the library opening in November 2021 with Martha Cooper.
• Stiftung Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoaned key historical artifacts to the 'LOVE LETTERS TO THE CITY' exhibition in 2024 to mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, showcasing different historical perspectives of wall painting within the city.
• LADY PINKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFemale graffiti pioneer and Hip Hop icon commissioned to completely transform the museum's modular facade for 'LOVE LETTERS TO THE CITY' — fusing NYC and Berlin cityscape elements.
• Jim AvignonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist commissioned for site-specific community murals in the Stadtraum!Plus program (e.g., murals at Kraepelinweg and Spektefeld in Falkenhagener Feld, June 2026), created in collaboration with neighborhood families and Outreach Club youth.
• Moses & TapsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist duo commissioned to create a suspended parcel delivery truck installation for the 'LOVE LETTERS TO THE CITY' exhibition.
• Rocco and his brothersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective commissioned for a hybrid reconstruction of two iconic graffiti writers' benches featured as a large-scale installation in 'LOVE LETTERS TO THE CITY'.
• JAZOO YANG / OMA BUNKERminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean artist Jazoo Yang collaborated with the local initiative OMA BUNKER to create a mural that gives a voice to social groups of elderly people, featured in 'LOVE LETTERS TO THE CITY'.
• PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A.coreTechnology or IntegrationPayment service provider for donations (paypal.me/berlinerleben), online shop checkout, and donor data handling (transactions, payment, location and device data). Data retention for tax purposes is 10 years.
• Google (Fonts, Maps, YouTube)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology integrations powering the website: Google Web Fonts for unified typography, Google Maps API for location services (street art map), and YouTube plugins for video content. IP addresses are transmitted to Google servers for these services.
• Matomo (self-hosted)coreTechnology or IntegrationOpen-source, self-hosted analytics platform used to collect anonymized usage data (anonymized IP addresses by removing the last 2 bytes, pseudo-anonymized location, screen resolution, language, click/download tracking, form interactions) for website optimization under GDPR Art. 6(1)(f).
• Nordkurier Logistik BerlinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party fulfillment partner that handles returns for URBAN NATION Shop orders at Alexander-Meißner-Straße 78+80, 12526 Berlin; consumers exercise 14-day right of withdrawal via this partner.
• Süd Ost Galerie (Berlin, Schöneweide) — local gardeners / community initiativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity-driven open-air street-art gallery developed on a former noise barrier in Schöneweide by local gardeners. Features works by 20+ artists and is supported by Berlin's Urban Nation network as an outreach channel for the museum's programming.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Palais de Tokyo: Paris contemporary-art centre with a similar focus on emerging and experimental artists; comparable institutionally as a free-admission, exhibition-led venue programming at the edge of contemporary art.
• Tate Modern: Major London contemporary-art museum that periodically programmes street art and urban contemporary art exhibitions; a broad incumbent for the international contemporary-art audience that overlaps with URBAN NATION's visitors.
• Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart: Berlin contemporary-art museum (part of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) covering post-1960 art including street-art-adjacent works; a city-museum incumbent peer for the contemporary-art audience.
• KW Institute for Contemporary Art Berlin: Berlin-based contemporary-art institution in Mitte; comparable in city and contemporary-art positioning, though it focuses on a broader and more experimental artistic remit than URBAN NATION's street-art specialisation.
• Deichtorhallen Hamburg: Hamburg's large-scale contemporary-art venue combining Halle für aktuelle Kunst and Haus der Photographie; comparable as a northern German contemporary-art institution with a similar exhibition-led, multi-venue model.
• Centre Pompidou: Paris national museum of modern and contemporary art; shares the major-institution / international-audience positioning that URBAN NATION aspires to, and frequently programmes street-art-adjacent exhibitions.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Los Angeles): Los Angeles contemporary-art museum; comparable as a major West Coast institution programming post-1970 art including street-art-adjacent work and engaging the same blue-chip international contemporary-art audience.

Direct peers

• Museum of Graffiti: Miami-based museum dedicated to the history and evolution of graffiti; one of the few museum-format institutions worldwide focused exclusively on graffiti and street art, directly comparable to URBAN NATION's mission, audience and curatorial remit.
• Beyond the Streets: Los Angeles-based exhibition and curatorial platform producing large-scale museum-format shows on graffiti and street art, featuring artists in URBAN NATION's network (Shepard Fairey, Martha Cooper et al.); the closest U.S. analog in curatorial mission, scale and touring exhibitions.
• STRAAT Museum Amsterdam: Amsterdam museum (opened 2020) dedicated to street art and graffiti in a large former warehouse, with permanent collection, residencies and rotating exhibitions; the closest European direct peer to URBAN NATION in format, audience and programming cadence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvNhKz5XmcWOB1wQ2_LKxzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbannationberlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbannation_berlin
• Xx.com/URBANNATIONBLN

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about URBAN NATION