Press release

EUROPEAN HERITAGE – ARTISTS’ LEGACIES AS CULTURAL TREASURE
International Symposium
Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Friedrich-Ebert Allee 4, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Friday, April 22nd and Saturday, April 23rd
On April 22/23, 2016, in the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, ( the Federal Art Exhibition Hall in Bonn)
the Rheinisches Archiv fuer Kuenstlernachlaesse (RAK) (Rhenish Archive for Artists’ Legacies)
is conducting an international Symposium where, under the title “European Heritage – Artists’
Legacies as Cultural Treasure” , invited experts from Europe, the USA and Canada will report
on the state of their work in their respective countries.
This Symposium elevates the discussion about artists’ legacies in Germany, for the first time, to
an European, and even International level. Besides event participants from Belgium, England,
France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, and Germany,
there will be participants from the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles/USA and the Art
Gallery of Ontario in Canada.
The focal point of discussion at the Symposium will be the search for a country-specific
memorial-culture and the handling of artists’ legacies. The goal of the Symposium would be to
stimulate an all-countries- inclusive scientific discussion of this subject, and to establish and
nurture a network of mutual cooperation among the diverse institutions of the participating
countries.
The Symposium will deal with the questions of “Where should the Art be housed?” and its future
“Usage” , as well as underlining the importance of artists’ legacies and their relevance for art
historical studies.
Aside from the different presentations, and with Michael Koehler (WDR 3 radio) as moderator,
representatives of such fields as Culture, Art Dealers, and Politics, will discuss the topic: “Artists’
Archives situated between Cultural Resources and Market Relevance.” This discussion will be
taped and can be heard again, via radio station, at a later date.
Frau Prof. Dr. Aleida Assmann from the University of Constance will be giving the opening
presentation with the title “ Between Remembering and Forgetting. Artist Legacies as
precarious Culture Treasures.” Frank Michael Zeidler, Chairman of the German Kuenstlerbund
(Artists League) Berlin, during the closing speech, will present the artist’s viewpoint on the
problematic of artists’ legacies.
And finally the “Bundesverband Kuenstlernachlaesse, e.V.” (Federal League for Artists’
Legacies), which is being established at this point, will present an up-to-date report on the
progress of being created, and their planned activities.
A small Fair of German archives and legacy initiatives takes place alongside the Symposium,
with the purpose of giving information on the state of research in Germany.
Registrations are requested up to April, 15th under:
E-mail: [email protected]
Foundation
Rheinisches Archiv fuer Kuenstlernachlaesse
Tel: +49 (0)228 93299935 – www.rak-bonn.de
In cooperation with:
Institut Moderne im Rheinland of the Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf
Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Promoted by:
Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft, Kulturstiftung der Länder, Landschaftsverband Rheinland,
Sparkasse KölnBonn, Rudolf Klefisch-Siftung

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