The National Center for Contemporary Arts appeared in Kaliningrad in 1997. In 2003 the Kronprinz barracks were handed over to the gallery to use. The buildings of the barracks date from the middle of the XIX century and are built in the Tudor Gothic architectural style.
The National Center for Contemporary Arts did a great job for reconstruction of the barracks and as a result became the most unusual art-area in the region. In addition to chamber exhibitions of contemporary Russian and world art, lectures, master classes, informal meetings and concerts of avant-garde musicians are held here on a regular basis. The Sound Around Kaliningrad festival is dedicated to the sound art. The National Center for Contemporary Arts received the Innovation Award three times.