*WESTSTERN—Prize for art associations in NRW
Category: Social engagement and community participation

We are delighted to receive the *WESTSTERN Prize and the associated recognition of our long-standing efforts to combine artistic practice with social commitment! The Temporary Gallery sees itself as a community-oriented institution that combines ecological and social sustainability and actively involves visitors in curatorial processes. The award confirms us in our efforts to further develop art institutions as resilient, accessible and participatory spaces.

Our mobile cooking project in public space Temporary Kitchen, the open costume workshopand the youth program Collaborative (Un-)Learning received particular mention in the awarding.

Statement of the *WESTSTERN jury:

"The jury honors this Temporary Gallery because social commitment, inclusion and sustainability are not just one aspect here, but rather the core idea of the Kunstverein. All activities—from exhibitions to screenings, workshops and guided tours to the mobile cooking unit “Temporary Kitchen”—serve the goal of being both an important exhibition venue for contemporary art and a lively place where different social groups can enter into a dialog with and about art. This also includes regular collaborations with other committed organizations in Cologne and NRW, which contribute to the ongoing development of a sustainable and inclusive cultural institution."

Read the full text here. (German)

Images:
1—Temporary Kitchen im Mauritiusveedel, Paula Erstmann und Lisa Klosterkötter, Temporary Gallery, 2024
2—Offene Kostümwerkstatt, in Kooperation mit dem M_Treff Alte Feuerwache, ROOTS & ROUTES Cologne e.V., Rutfront Fastelovendsbund e.V. und den Künstler:innen, Kostüm- und Maskenbilder:innen, Temporary Gallery
3—Installationsansicht, Sichtbar, unsichtbar, unwichtig?, 2025, Havîn Al-Sîndy mit Schüler*innen der Katharina Henoth-Gesamtschule, beteiligte Künstler*innen: Cem A. und Kükelhahn, betreuende Lehrerin: Tinani van Niekerk, unterstützt von der Fachschaft Kunst, mit künstlerischen Arbeiten von: Amina Benti, Anas Assadiki, Angelika Hramov, Ayman Qotbi, Bedia Dogan, Beyza Acar, Christyano Kamil, Dunja Sarwar, Esther Stolle, Fatima Shafique, Gjylsime Bitiq, Hazal Okutan, Henoc Scofield, Joy Serge (Jsk), Karim Assri, Khairi Rasho Ismael Huwairi, LucLan, Mariella Demiri, Melda Göksel, Nurallah Omer, Rugayya Aghazada, Samet Aziz Kara, Tuana Öztürk, Umut Gök, Yunus Kerem Akbas, Zehra Betül Yüksel; Kuration: Paloma Nana.
70% Barba(r), 30% Abiturient – Über Wahrnehmung und Identität, 2025, Anas Assadiki, Ayman Qotbi, Khairi Rasho Ismael Huwairi, LucLan, Nurallah Omer, Samet Aziz Kara; Schulbücher, 2025, Havîn Al-Sîndy;
Kreide, 2025, Havîn Al-Sîndy
Fotos: Lisa Alice Klosterkötter