The photography forum of the Aachen city region in Monschau. From art and culture center to forum for international photography

Since 2002, the 150-year-old building on Austrasse, on the edge of Monschau's old town, has been a place of art and culture. Initially, the "Art and Culture Center of the City Region of Aachen" was created here as a meeting place and studio for artists from the region, which gradually developed into an exhibition center for artistic photography. In 2020, the "KuK" was renamed "Photography Forum of the Aachen City Region" in accordance with its focus and - thanks to the support of the Ministry of Homeland, Municipal Affairs, Building and Equal Opportunities - it was able to establish itself as a museum location in the region.

In addition to the presentation of a top-class annual program with four to six exhibitions of internationally known greats of photographic art (such as Berenice Abbott, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Anton Corbijn, Bruce Davidson, Lotte and Ruth Jacobi, Jacques-Henri Lartique, Robert Lebeck, Herbert List, Vivian Maier , Lee Miller, Stefan Moses and many more) the photography forum has been co-organizing the photography festival since 2021, which takes place every two years in the city region in cooperation with numerous partners. Parallel to the regular exhibitions, an exclusive collection of photographic art was created – based on significant donations from artists and estate administrators – which grew steadily through targeted acquisitions.

The promotion of artists is an aspect that is still important to the house: Since 2020/21, a grant has been awarded for the first time to support the photographic work of an artist. In terms of content, the scholarship is linked to the realization of a project that relates to the region around Monschau. The result will then be presented in an exhibition.

As part of the consolidation of the museum's position, the expansion of an educational framework program is also being increasingly devoted. In this context, a "learning studio" will be set up from autumn 2022 - in cooperation with the "Kulturrucksack NRW". This is an educational offer on photography especially for young people and schoolchildren, which is to be further expanded in the coming years.

In February 2007, the house was honored by the "Germany - Land of Ideas" initiative under the patronage of Federal President Horst Köhler for the innovative conception and lively implementation.

Photography forum (formerly KuK) of the Aachen city region

Austrasse 9 52156 Monschau

Telephone/fax 0 24 72 - 80 31 94

info@kuk-monschau.de

www.kuk-monschau.de

  Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday (including public holidays) : 2 p.m. - 5 p.m Saturday, Sunday (including public holidays) : 11 a.m. - 5 p.m closed on Mondays Annual closure from mid-December to late January