Kestner Gesellschaft Hannover

Profile

In 1997, Lower Saxony's current Minister President, Gerhard Schröder, inaugurated the new facilities of the kestnergesellschaft at Goseriede 11. Simultaneously the "Münchener Abendzeitung" declared the remodelled exhibition facility, "Germany's most beautiful exhibition house." The remodelling of the former Goseriede swimming-pool into an up-to-date exhibition house, not only incorporates the high tech demands of modern exhibition operations, but also preserves and showcases the "Jugendstil," or art nouveau feautures of this historic landmark. With its five halls on two levels, the house has more than 1,500 square meters of exhibition surface at its command.

Located in a distinguished, smartly designed exhibition space within Hanover's city center, the kestnergesellschaft numbers among the largest and most acclaimed German "Kunstvereine" or art associations. Since the foundation of the institution in 1916, our presence in the contemporary art world not only survived, but thrived throughout the explosive artistic, social and technological developments of the 20th century. Our goal in the 21st century continues to be the presentation of new work by important and relevant artists within the global context.

The visible present, not only interpreted and contested within the visual arts but also in architecture, fashion and design, is a central focus of our interest in art presentation and dissemination. Contemporary music and literature, along with the theoretical positions of both philosophy and the humanities, inform the kestner's interdisciplinary approach toward contemporary ideas, knowledge production, struggles and debates.