Mönchehaus Museum Goslar

About the Mönchehaus Museum Goslar
The Mönchehaus Museum Goslar is a space for modern and contemporary art located in the heart of the medieval town of Goslar, Germany. Founded in 1978, the museum was established to provide a dedicated exhibition venue for recipients of the internationally renowned Goslar Kaiserring. Today, the Kaiserring is regarded as one of the most prestigious international awards for contemporary art.
The roots of the museum trace back to 1974, when a group of local citizens led by industrialist Peter Schenning (1923–2010) founded the Verein zur Förderung Moderner Kunst in Goslar e.V. (VFK)—an art association committed to fostering dialogue between contemporary art and the historic environment of the town. From the outset, the association’s ambitions were clear: the inaugural Kaiserring was awarded to Henry Moore, followed by a long list of internationally acclaimed artists including Richard Serra, Rebecca Horn, Cindy Sherman, John Baldessari, Isa Genzken, Wolfgang Tillmans, Barabara Kruger, Hans Haacke, Isaac Julien, and Katharina Fritsch.
The Goslar Kaiserring is awarded annually by the City of Goslar. The recipient is selected by an international expert jury in conjunction with the local Goslar jury, ensuring a dialogue between global perspectives and regional engagement. Today, the Kaiserring is regarded as one of the most significant international prizes for contemporary art.
In parallel to the Kaiserring, the association established the Kaiserring Scholarship for Emerging Artists (Kaiserringstipendium) in 1984, underlining its commitment to supporting the next generation of artists. The fellowship includes a solo exhibition at the Mönchehaus Museum, a dedicated publication, and an acquisition guarantee. The selection is made by a jury composed of board members of the VFK, the museum’s director, and invited experts. Since 2014, the fellowship has been generously supported by the AKB Stiftung in Einbeck.
With 2,000 members, the VFK remains one of Germany’s largest and most active art associations.
Housed in a late Gothic timber-framed building with adjoining contemporary annexes, the Mönchehaus Museum hosts a wide-ranging exhibition program that includes solo exhibitions by Kaiserring recipients, thematic group shows, and curated presentations of emerging and established artists. The museum also maintains a growing collection of contemporary art.
Its public programming includes artist talks, panel discussions, guided tours, performances, concerts, readings, and collaborations with schools, universities, and cultural institutions. The museum’s Atelier für Alle (Studio for All) functions as a dedicated educational platform, offering workshops and participatory formats tailored to diverse and intergenerational audiences.
Situated at the intersection of international artistic discourse and local cultural engagement, the Mönchehaus Museum Goslar positions itself as an open and inclusive space for critical reflection, democratic cultural participation, and dialogue—where contemporary art meets historical context, and where past, present, and future come together.