Established in 2002 as the first cultural start-up center in North Rhine-Westphalia, the former art and culture center (KuK) in Monschau has since developed into a forum for international photography: the Photography Forum of the Aachen City Region. Meanwhile, art fans from near and far flock to the historic building in the old town to see changing exhibitions by top-class photographers and exchange ideas with other guests.
The town's former tax office is located between the rocky banks of the Rur, just a few minutes' walk from the Monschau market. Where dull paperwork once dominated everyday life, impressive photographs by international photo artists now line the walls. Greats such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Vivian Maier, Anton Corbijin, Bruce Davidson and Lotte and Ruth Jacobi have already presented their work here.
Large network offers opportunities
Originally conceived as a place for creative work with 14 artists' studios, the former art and cultural center has been transformed into a showcase for the international photography scene in recent years. The exhibitions are more extensive and more concentrated than ever before. The name "Fotografie-Forum" reflects the new orientation well; it emphasizes the dialog character that the house wants to create between artists and guests.
Photo newcomers from the region - formed in the specially founded SHIFT project - also benefit from the international network, which includes agencies such as Magnum Photos (Paris) and diChroma (Madrid). They present their work to a broad public under one roof with the stars of the scene in the cabinet-style rooms. A scholarship even enables a young talent to realize a project work each year, which is then presented to the public in a separate show.
Other highlights in the Photography Forum's program include the Photography Festival, which celebrated its successful premiere in 2021 with around 10,000 visitors at 14 exhibition venues in the Aachen city region, as well as individual workshops, seminars and educational offers for adults and young people. As a result, the museum's own archive of photographic art is constantly growing.
