Open Call: Exhibition of the Artist Members
Connections to 200 Years of the Present.
The Kunstverein and the Fictions of the Sovereign, Freedom and Nation. Constellation 3 (working title)
August 23 – September 21, 2025
Opening: Friday, August 22, 2025, 7 pm
Online Submission form (language: German) at
https://form.jotform.com/250903494707360
Submission deadline: May 28, 2025
200 years oft he WKV’s Presence
2027 marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Württembergischer Kunstverein (WKV). In the run-up to the bicentenary, the WKV is undertaking a two-year open process to examine three central ideas that are closely interwoven with the founding of German Kunstvereine (art associations) at the beginning of the nineteenth century from a contemporary perspective: the constitution of the (white, male) citizen as sovereign; the freedom of art; and nation building. The local particularities and concrete developments of the WKV will be considered in terms of their global entanglements. Linear time concepts will be questioned.
Founding members of the WKV such as the merchant, bank director and self-proclaimed art dilettante Gottlob Heinrich Rapp, the publisher Johann Friedrich Cotta and the lawyer August Friedrich Köstlin (Ulrike Meinhof's great-great-great-uncle) represent the newly emerging type of self-confident educated and propertied citizen in the 19th century, who rose through the ranks of society by trading, holding political office and engaging in art and culture.
At this time, artists emancipated themselves from courtly patrons, whereby the new freedom of art was immediately accompanied by its restriction through censorship and its dependence on new groups of buyers. The function of the first art associations was to mediate between art, artists and an emerging art public and art market.
The exhibition of the artist members of the WKV 2025
Every two years, the WKV organizes a four-week exhibition of its artist members. A theme is chosen for each exhibition, for which all interested parties can submit a proposal. This year's exhibition of artist members takes up the theme of 200 Years of the WKV's Presence. This is the third constellation in the series of exhibitions planned for the anniversary.
The artist members of the WKV are invited to engage with the history, present and/or future of the WKV. They can draw on the WKV archive and materials from previous exhibitions. Founding members such as Rapp, Cotta, Köstlin or Gustav Schwab can serve as a source of inspiration, as can their contemporary Luise Duttenhofer: a Stuttgart artist who ironically mocks the vanity of these gentlemen in her silhouettes. Who was Alice Widensohler, the first woman to lead the WKV? How did the WKV behave during the Nazi era and what does it have to do with colonialism? What would we ask the members and leaders of the first decades from today's perspective? And how would the founders see the WKV today? What history do you associate with the WKV? ...
This year's exhibition by artist members offers a variety of points of reference to the history, present and future of the WKV. Contributions that reflect the Kunstverein phenomenon in a general way and independently of the WKV archive are also welcome: for example, works that deal with questions of freedom and the free spaces of art. What does this look like today?
In addition to artistic contributions, proposals for performative and/or discursive events, such as discussion rounds, lectures, performances, workshops, film evenings or city tours, can again be submitted this time.
MODALITIES
Who can submit works and event proposals?
All artist members of the WKV (Want to become a member? See: https://www.wkv-stuttgart.de/verein/mitglieder)
Procedure
Submissions are made via digital submission form
Online (language: German) at: https://form.jotform.com/250903494707360
Submission deadline: 28. Mai 2025
If you are unable to use the online form or if you need a form in English, please contact Anne Volk: volk@wkv-stuttgart.de.
Dates
Confirmation of participation: June 23–29, 2025
Delivery of the artworks: August 4–6, 2025, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. each day
Württembergischer Kunstverein, entrance Stauffenbergstrasse
Puplic program: Last week of the exhibition
Collection of the artworks: September 23–26, 2025
Viewing jury
All submissions from artist members of the WKV will be considered by the WKV viewing jury for participation in the exhibition.
If the number of submissions considered for the exhibition exceeds the spatial and organizational capacities of the WKV in a disproportionate manner, the WKV viewing jury reserves the right to make a selection.
Exclusion criteria
The WKV viewing jury reserves the right to exclude submissions from participation in the exhibition in the following cases:
· if the content of the submission deviates too much from the specified theme
· if the size and scope of the submission exceeds the spatial capacities of the exhibition
The WKV viewing jury also reserves the right to exclude submissions that contain anti-Semitism, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination from participation in the exhibition.
Conditions of participation in the exhibition
No fees can be paid for participation in the exhibition by WKV artist members and no production, transportation and/or travel costs can be covered. The exhibition technology (pedestals, lighting, technical equipment, showcases, etc.) will be provided by the WKV by arrangement. The installation of the works will be carried out by the WKV technical team.
Conditions for event proposals
The WKV screening jury will make a selection regarding the submission of event proposals (lectures, performances, etc.). A fee is provided for these by arrangement.
Contact for further questions
Anne Volk: volk@wkv-stuttgart.de
