Salling Department Store has roots dating back to 1906, when merchant Ferdinand Salling opened a small shop in Aarhus. After his death in 1953, his son Herman Salling took over the business.

During an expansion of the department store, the idea arose to offer customers the chance to enjoy a 360-degree view of Aarhus from the flat roof.

In 2017, Salling Rooftop opened, featuring a bar, bistro, skywalk, and stage.

The donation has also contributed to the expansion and establishment of Roofgarden, which opened in 2022. Roofgarden is Denmark's largest urban garden, a blooming oasis with trees, sky swings, and artworks.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 58.2 million.

Aarhus Concert Hall opened in 1982 and is now a central cultural venue where music and live performances are the main focus. Each year, the venue welcomes nearly millions of visitors, offering stunning acoustics and beautiful architecture across 10 stages and seven halls, hosting over 1,500 events annually.

Over the years, the Salling Foundations have contributed to several projects at Musikhuset Aarhus, including the renovation of the main hall, a new foyer, a new lower foyer, and new lighting installations.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 36.9 million.

ARoS Aarhus Art Museum was originally founded in 1847 and is now an internationally renowned art museum with five galleries and an entire floor dedicated to installation art. The museum houses over 8,000 works and is especially known for its rainbow-colored skywalk, offering visitors the opportunity to experience Aarhus through all the colors of the rainbow.

In 2025, The Dome, a permanent and site-specific artwork by James Turrell, will open. The piece consists of a domed space stretching 16 meters in height and 40 meters in diameter. At the same time, the new expansion The Next Level will open, featuring an underground exhibition gallery and new art experiences. The Salling Foundations have supported the creation of the entire project.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 104 million.

The Old Town (Open-Air Museum) in Aarhus was founded in 1907 and today consists of 80 historical buildings. The museum takes its visitors on a living journey through four significant periods in Aarhus' history: 1864, 1927, 1974, and 2014.

Each period is reconstructed with authentic buildings, interiors, and costumes, and from April onwards, visitors can meet people who live and work as they did in the past. This unique experience offers insight into how Aarhus has evolved over time, from the Viking Age to the modern-day city.

The Salling Foundations have supported Den Gamle By in bringing Aarhus' history to life – from the Viking Age to the present day – including projects such as "Aarhus Tells" and the establishment of a functionalist building from Jelling.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 74.6 million.

Aarhus Teater
Aarhus Theatre is Denmark's largest regional theatre and was built in the late 1890s, initiated by a group of theatre-loving citizens. The impressive building in the Jugendstil architectural style was founded on September 15, 1900, and has been a listed building since 1981.

Each year, the theatre attracts 100,000 visitors, with around 450 performances spread across approximately 20 productions.

The donation has, for example, contributed to the renovation of Aarhus Teater's two stages, the Main Stage and the Scala Stage, as well as improvements to the audience areas. This support has helped ensure a great experience for visitors within the historic setting.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 76.7 million.

The Harbour Bath at Basin 7 on Aarhus Ø was designed by the renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels and has become a popular meeting point on the city's waterfront. Created with a focus on community, the bath offers a modern setting for both locals and visitors.

The facility includes a 50-meter pool, a children's pool with a sloping bottom, a junior pool, and a diving pool with a depth of 4 meters. Additionally, there is a sauna and a large terrace where visitors can enjoy the sun and the view of the bay.

The promenade deck is open 24/7, while the pool area has set opening hours.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 42.4 million.

The Viewing Tower at Aarhus Ø (Aarhus East) is 14 meters tall and weighs more than 80 tons. The tower serves as both a lookout point and an architectural sculpture, with its round openings offering a 360-degree view of the area. It is not only for the residents of Aarhus Ø but also a place open to anyone who wishes to enjoy the spectacular view.

Aarhus Ø has become a prominent landmark in the city, and Udsigtstårnet is a central part of the unique architecture that makes the area special.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 7 million.

The Fountain named Endless Connection, at Herman Sallings Plads is an unconventional fountain that functions as a kind of water pavilion. The more than two-meter-high water walls create an impressive sight when water jets are pumped up from nozzles in the ground, forming a dynamic, living sculpture.

The fountain invites both children and adults to play and explore among the changing water jets, which continuously alter in shape and pattern. It is an experience that both engages and fascinates, adding a unique dimension to the square's urban life.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 20 million.

The playground at Dokk1 consists of a circular play route that connects five play areas, each inspired by a different continent. Each area invites play and storytelling.

The elements of the world are built as a compass, pointing towards the corners of the globe. To the north, you can challenge your balance on the ice floes, while the Chinese dragon to the east offers adventures for the little ones. To the west, the North American eagle provides a sense of freedom, and to the south, you will find peace and comfort with the African monkey on the savannah.

When you're small, even the smallest challenges feel big.

Total donation from the Salling Foundations: DKK 7 million.