KREFELD.- The newly established Kunststiftung an den Kunstmuseen Krefeld is now ready to begin its work. Initiated by museum director Katia Baudin and supported by the City of Krefeld—notably by Mayor Frank Meyer—this independent art foundation has successfully been brought to life. Its mission is the sustainable support of art, culture and research at the Kunstmuseen Krefeld. In doing so, the foundation will play a key role in strengthening the institution as an important site of cultural exchange and scholarly dialogue.

The Kunststiftung an den Kunstmuseen Krefeld is an independent, legally recognized non-profit foundation based in Krefeld. One of its primary objectives is to expand the museum’s collection. As demonstrated by similar initiatives at other institutions—such as the Kunststiftung at Museum Ludwig, established in 2008—the foundation serves as an incentive for civic engagement. Donations of artworks or financial contributions to the non-profit foundation offer tax benefits to donors. This creates new opportunities for the Kunstmuseen Krefeld to significantly enhance their holdings in both art and design. In addition, the foundation aims to support the museum’s programs and activities and to serve as a partner in collaborations with other non-profit organizations and foundations, such as the Adolf Luther Stiftung in Krefeld.

The Kunststiftung an den Kunstmuseen Krefeld is governed by two main bodies: a Board of Directors and a Board of Trustees. By virtue of her position, Katia Baudin, Director of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld, serves as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. She is joined by Dr. Birgit Roos, former Chairwoman of the Board of Sparkasse Krefeld, and Professor Dr. Ulrich Krempel, former Director of the Sprengel Museum Hannover, who brings extensive experience in foundation work at public museums.

The Board of Trustees includes Mayor of the City of Krefeld Frank Meyer as well as the Adolf Luther Stiftung, which has contributed two large concave mirror works by artist Adolf Luther to the foundation’s assets. Additional members of the Board of Trustees include artist Marcel Odenbach, entrepreneur and collector Jessica Oehme, design expert Tomiowski, and attorney Jörg Hallmann. All share a close connection to the Kunstmuseen Krefeld.

“Especially in times of limited public funding, it is an encouraging sign when cultural institutions explore new ways to expand their collections and place their research and exhibition work on a more sustainable footing. I am delighted that so many people from Krefeld and the surrounding region are already supporting the new foundation and giving it a strong start. Ultimately, the public will benefit as well, as they will be able to experience and appreciate even more outstanding works of art in our museums,” says Mayor Frank Meyer.

“Civic engagement has always played a central role in the history of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld—from the construction of the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum and the earliest collection initiatives to the many donations and permanent loans that continue to shape and expand our holdings to this day. With this foundation, we are creating a flexible and attractive structure not only for artists and collectors, but for anyone who wishes to support art and contribute to our work in a groundbreaking way.”

The Kunstmuseen Krefeld have always considered themselves as a civic museum, closely connected to the public. The newly launched art foundation firmly anchors this identity and can serve as a model for how public museums in Germany can sustainably integrate private support into their work,” explains Katia Baudin, Director of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld.

The art foundation’s initial endowment has already benefited from generous financial contributions from both private and public sources. Supporters include private donors as well as the Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Krefeld and Wohnstätte Krefeld, among others. A significant private bequest has also been pledged to the newly launched art foundation. At this point, the Kunststiftung an den Kunstmuseen Krefeld’s collection encompasses approximately 100 works by nine artists, strengthening key sections of the Kunstmuseen Krefeld’s collection. These include paintings and sculptures by the Düsseldorf-based artist Robert Rotar, paintings by Anton Henning, furniture by Andrea Zittel created for the 2022 solo exhibition at Haus Esters, as well as an extensive group of early works by painter Helmut Dorner, which will soon be presented in the collection display Collection in Motion at the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum (KWM). These works have been donated by private collectors as well as by the artists themselves, underscoring the close relationship between the Kunstmuseen Krefeld and a wide network of artists and collectors.