The Morat Collection traces its origins to the intensive collecting activities of Franz Armin Morat (born 1943) and Eva-Maria Morat (born 1947). Together with his parents, the entrepreneurs Franz Morat Jr. (1911–1986) and Charlotte A. Morat (1921–2000), Franz Armin Morat founded the Morat Institute for Art and Art History in Freiburg in the 1980s. The aim was to consolidate the family’s collection and the philanthropic support of artists within a foundation and to connect it with art historical research.
In addition to an extensive collection of Old Master prints (Rembrandt, Dürer, Schongauer, Goya), the Morats endeavored to compile comprehensive in-depth holdings of individual artists. Their most important collecting focuses included Carl Schuch, Giorgio Morandi, Kurt Kocherscheidt, Ian McKeever, Artur Stoll, and Herbert Maier. Other areas of focus for the collection included Renaissance medals, the sculptures of Franz Bernhard, and African art. In addition, the foundation maintained an extensive art historical library, which today comprises approximately 50,000 volumes.
For over 35 years, between 1988 and 2024, the foundation operated its own exhibition space. A former industrial building in Freiburg provided the setting for a rotating exhibition program in three large skylit halls covering 3,000 square meters.
In 2024, the founding couple retired from the foundation’s operations. The family’s efforts to ensure the long-term presence of the collection in Freiburg culminated in a cooperation agreement with the city. The majority of the collection is now on permanent loan to the Freiburg Municipal Museums. The city also took over the exhibition space and continues to operate it as an exhibition space and cultural venue.
The collection is currently overseen by Franz Robert Morat (born 1971) and Prof. Dr. Daniel Morat (*1973) aswell as Dr. Christine Litz (*1967), Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Freiburg.