In 1976, the “Künstlergemeinschaft-werkstatt” was founded at the old “Marientor” in Gelsenkirchen-Buer by five artists—two illustrators and graphic designers, a sculptor, and two goldsmiths. After the building complex was demolished, the group found a new home at Hagenstr. 34. In the spring of 2009, the “werkstatt” faced closure. Upon hearing the news of the impending closure, a small group of friends founded the supporting association “werkstatt Verein zur Förderung von Kunst und Kultur e.V.,” which has been responsible for the program ever since.

The traditional focus on exhibitions of works by renowned artists has been expanded to include other genres such as jazz, poetry slam, and theater. Over the past 10 years, the “werkstatt” has developed into an arts and culture center for Gelsenkirchen and the surrounding area. This demonstrates to the organizers that there is a great need for this type of culture and encourages them to continue working on high-quality offerings.

Hagenstraße 34 | Gelsenkirchen