"Changing signs": Münsterland cultural office is looking for art projects to mark the 50th anniversary of the regional reform

In 1975, a reform of the century comes into force in Münsterland: as in the whole of Germany, numerous local authority and district boundaries are shifted. Many a small town is incorporated into a larger one, town signs are exchanged, areas of life change from one day to the next. The territorial reform, which is actually an administrative act, digs deep into the cultural self-image of the region. To mark the 50th anniversary of the municipal territorial reform, the Kulturbüro des Münsterland e.V. is looking for artistic projects from all disciplines that deal with the effects of the reorganisation in Münsterland.

"We are interested in the consequences of the reform on identities and local self-image," says project manager Laura Säumenicht from the cultural office. "What anecdotes and stories arose from this event? What processes are still having an impact today and will continue to shape the future? With 'Schilderwechsel', we want to look at the controversial administrative reform from an artistic perspective."

The selected projects are to be prepared from October and implemented throughout the region in the first quarter of 2025. A presentation week with all contributions is planned as the highlight and conclusion at the beginning of May 2025. "A big wish of ours is to involve the population in the various phases of the projects," says Säumenicht.

As the organiser of "Schilderwechsel", the Kulturbüro Münsterland forms the conceptual and communicative umbrella. Partner institutions of the project and potential points of contact are Burg Hülshoff - Center for Literature (CfL), DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst, FARB - Forum Altes Rathaus Borken, Filmwerkstatt Münster, Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck and Theater im Pumpenhaus.

Applications are open to individual artists and collectives with project ideas from all genres, from literature to performance and media art. A budget of between 4000 and 12,000 euros (gross) will be made available per project. Applications can be submitted via a form up to and including 17 May 2024, and projects will be selected by an expert jury in mid-June.

Everything you need to know about the application can be found at www.muensterland.com/schilderwechsel

Laura Säumenicht (02571 94 93 67, schilderwechsel@muensterland.com) will answer any questions about "Changing Signs".

Sponsors of the project

"Schilderwechsel - 50 Jahre Gebietsreform im Münsterland" is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia (funding programme RKP - Regionales Kulturprogramm NRW) and the LWL-Kulturstiftung.