About the Kunstverein
The Bellevue-Saal is an art association for contemporary art
In 1986 it was founded as the ”Verein zur Förderung künstlerischer Projekte mit gesellschaftlicher Relevanz e.V.“ (Association for the Promotion of Artistic Projects with Social Relevance) by a group of artists, initially as a platform for the realisation of their own projects. In autumn 1993, the Association took over the organisation of art exhibitions in the empty dining room of the former Bellevue spa hotel on Wilhelmstrasse in Wiesbaden.
The first exhibition of the Kunstverein at Wilhelmstrasse 32 opened on 27 May 1994 with a joint exhibition.
The Wiesbaden State Museum, the Museum Ernst, the Nassauischer Kunstverein, the Literaturhaus Villa Clementine, the SAM – Stadtmuseum am Markt and the Hessian State Theatre are all located in the immediate vicinity of the Kunstverein Bellevue-Saal.
The concept of the exhibitions
„1:1“
In the ”1:1“ series, an artist from the Rhine-Main region and an artist from elsewhereoutside the Rhine-Main region, develop a concept for a joint exhibition in the Bellevue-Saal.
SOLO
In the ”SOLO“ series, we present artists whose work we believe deserves greater public attention.
Information on how to apply can be found here.
Scholarships
Along with the new exhibition venue, the Association also took on the annual awarding of two scholarships in 1993, each for four months. Until 2017, the scholarship holders had the opportunity to live and work in a spacious studio in the Kunsthaus on the Schulberg during their four-month stay in Wiesbaden. This enabled the Association to offer the scholarships worldwide. Grants were regularly awarded to artists from Asia, USA, Eastern Europe and South America. Due to the renovation of the Kunsthaus, which is scheduled to last several years, and the associated loss of flats and studios, this possibility unfortunately does not exist at present. Sadly, the Association therefore had to change its tender modalities. The scholarships are currently only offered to artists from Hessen and Rheinhessen who have the opportunity to work in their own studios.
Awards
The Kunstverein Bellevue-Saal was awarded the Culture Prize of the City of Wiesbaden in 2006.
Memberships
The Kunstverein Bellevue-Saal is a member of the AdKV – Arbeitsgemeinschaft deutscher Kunstvereine e.V. Members of the Bellevue-Saal thus have free admission to over 300 German art associations.
Exhibition archive
The exhibition archive of the Association contains the exhibitions of the last 10 years.
All exhibitions since 1994 have been documented in a print edition comprising eight volumes to date. Similarly, leaflet catalogues of the respective scholarship holders have been published since 2008.
Sponsors
City of Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden, capital of the state of Hesse, is characterised by a diverse cultural life. From the Hessian State Theatre, the Wiesbaden Museum, concerts at the Schlachthof Cultural Centre and the Kurhaus, the Rheingau Music Festival and the Caligari FilmBühne to numerous film festivals, the Literature House, galleries and cabarets: Wiesbaden offers the entire spectrum of lively and modern culture.
Georg Müller Foundation Winery
In the heart of the Rheingau, in the picturesque village of Hattenheim, lies the Georg Müller Foundation Winery. After being the winery of the town of Eltville for many years, it has been owned by Peter Winter since 2003. With its characterful, complex and origin-related wines, the winery is now one of Germany's top wineries.