The Grazer Kunstverein was founded in 1986 by Peter Pakesch and Helmut Strobl as a space for the production and exhibition of contemporary art with a constant publications programme. It shows, promotes and produces new trends in national and international contemporary art.

The Grazer Kunstverein is a place for production that is not dependent on marketing or visitor number. It operates independently from politics and their demands on cultural activities. Above all, it is guided by the quality and consequence of the artistic experiments that it presents and encourages.

The Grazer Kunstverein shows exhibitions on contemporary art. In cooperation with the Steirischer Herbst (festival for new art taking place every year in Graz), the Grazer Kunstverein regularly organizes thematic exhibitions with a focus on the annual leitmotif of the festival.

Grazer Kunstverein presents approximately fifteen projects each year.

Most outstanding projects in recent years:

Eine Person allein in einem Raum mit Coca-Cola-farbenen WŠnden, 2006

Die blaue Blume, 2007

Idealismusstudio, 2008

Provisorisches Yoga, 2009

Matts Leiderstam, 2010

In addition to exhibitions, the Grazer Kunstverein is also a platform for symposia, discussions, lectures, and workshops on art and its theoretical contexts.

As part of KunstvereinÕs programme, Kunsttext.werk was founded in 2009 as a platform for producing and publishing theoretical discourse and connecting an international community of art historians. 2-3 times per year, writing workshops are organized to exchange and discuss various approaches towards art.

Guided tours for students, the public and members of the Grazer Kunstverein are offered regularly. Trips and travels for members are organized to develop knowledge on contemporary art and provide the possibility of experience art on-site.

Publications are produced regularly to contextualize exhibitions from varied theoretical perspectives. They are distributed worldwide.

350 sq ft. Gallery, office, publication display and reading area, storeroom.