The City of Neumünster Ceramic Endowment

In 1987, the City of Neumünster established under the patronage of the Dr. Hans Hoch Foundation set up the first and so far only City Pottery Centre in Germany. The original objective of this endowment was to promote and support young gifted ceramists from Northern Germany for a period of two years after completion of their studies. In 2006, this concept was expanded to include all areas of fine arts as long as the work involved the use of ceramic materials. The endowment is also meant to attract artists from the littoral states to the Baltic like Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Isle of Fyn.
Neumünster (77,200 inhabitants) is located at the very heart of Schleswig-Holstein, the northern-most state of Germany. You will find it on the axis Hamburg - Flensburg almost at the same distance from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (60-80 kms). Neumünster was historically known as a famous place for weavers and clothiers. 2007 a new large-scale textile museum was established in the city's downtown area. The "Holstenhallen" or civic centre serves as a showplace for trade fairs and big public events throughout the year. In summer Neumünster is host to the “Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival” enjoying a wide range of concerts.

Since 2007 the foundation of the Sparkasse Südholstein takes part in the expenditures for the scholarship.

The building in which the Pottery Centre is situated is located in a picturesque small historic street within the pedestrian's precinct in the city's centre. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century and was renovated in 1986. The former shop-rooms on the ground floor were converted into a generous studio plus exhibition-rooms for the beneficiaries (108 sqms in total). The affiliated flat (64 sqms) is on the first floor and consists of 2 rooms, a kitchen, and a complete bathroom. Behind the house, there is a little garden. The studio is equipped with a potter's wheel, gas-operated and electric kilns, a spraying-booth, and a vacuum extruding-press.

In addition to the exhibition rooms, the city offers some further interesting exhibition opportunities. The Pottery Centre has been in existence for almost 20 years and has not only received a very good reputation in Neumünster but in its vicinity as well. It is not only popular with the local residents who visit it frequently but you will also find collectors and customers from all over Northern Germany among its visitors and clientele.

The raw material of ceramic itself offers a wide range of creative features, and this concerns not only its commercial applications (vessels, brickwork) but also the place it has as a free fine arts form. Nevertheless, acceptance within the Fine Art community must still be won over.

The endowment's concept and goal lays in the promotion of young, talented artists whose major work involves the use of ceramic materials and who are believed to have the potential for a professional career in art. A comfortable environment without any economic strains is meant to help them develop and in fact acquire an individual style and/or to experiment with new ideas. They are able to have their first experience with interested viewers or potential customers, exhibitions, or to gain experience as teachers in courses at local institutions or in private circles.
The Pottery Centre enables art-loving residents to meet artists of different schools, exchange views, and share in their creative processes. Its uniqueness furthers the self-confidence of the people living in the area and furthers the attractiveness of the city.


Tenders (Requirements):

The endowment is available to University or Art College graduates who have completed their studies within the last 3 years of the date of this application. There are no age restrictions. Artists from the countries of Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and the Isle of Fyn may submit applications. Being able to speak German is prefered but English is accepted as a second language as well.
The endowment is limited to a 2-year period.

Applications can be handed in by individuals or by artist-couples. In the latter case, the endowment will be given to one person only allowing for the partner to participate in the work of the beneficiary. There have already been some interesting partners that have worked at the centre.

Expectations
The endowment to live and work includes free utilization of the flat and of the studio. Private consumption of electric current and the telephone connection are at the own expense of the beneficiary.
Each beneficiary will receive a monthly amount of 500 Euro net for the settlement of the cost of living during his/her stay.
On moving out, the flat and studio will be handed over as received by the beneficiary.
If the beneficiary should plan an exhibition, he/she will receive a subsidy by the Dr. Hans Hoch Foundation as well as assistance with its realization.

Requests to the beneficiaries
The Pottery Centre is meant to be open to the public.
It is a meeting place of cultural exchange and therefore, the beneficiary is expected to live and work in Neumünster for the most part of his/her stay. During this period, the beneficiary will be responsible for proper treatment of the studio and the exhibition rooms. It is desirable that the artist organizes at least one (individual) exhibition of his/her own work per year, and that the beneficiary is prepared to present his work to interested residents, organizations, and groups as well as to the local media. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the artist devotes a part of his/her time, on a small scale, to gallery activities, i.e. the organization of exhibitions of other guest artists. The applicant must have accomplished an education in fine arts and must use ceramic as a preponderant working material.
The applicant must be familiar with the processes and technology of a ceramist's studio and must be able to handle them in a self-responsible manner.
By end of the endowment, the beneficiary will hand over (donate) a sample of his/her work to the Dr. Hans Hoch Foundation.


An expert jury will select the beneficiary.
This jury consists of:

• A former beneficiary
• An independent, free-lance ceramic artist
• A ceramic teacher
• The Manager of Cultural Promotion and Development
• The City Councillor of Culture and Education or his deputy
• A representative of the Professional Association of Fine Arts
• A representative of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of “Landesmuseum Schleswig”
• A representative of the Foundation Sparkasse Südholstein

The following application documents are to be submitted:

• Curriculum vitae
• Resume
• Comprehensive documentation of artistic work in photos or slides
• Work concept for the time of the endowment at the Pottery Centre.

The scholarship was awarded to Danijela Pivasevic-Tenner as of November 2009.

Current dates of application and further information will be available from
 


Dr. Hans Hoch Stiftung / Dr. Hans Hoch Foundation
Stadt Neumünster Municipality of Neumünster
Neues Rathaus New Town Hall
Großflecken 59
24534 Neumünster
Phone: +49 (0)4321/942 -2792
www.hochstiftung.de
info@hochstiftung.de

Stadttöpferei / City Pottery Centre
Fürsthof 8, 24534 Neumünster
Phone: +49 (0)4321/252 15 02

Former Endowment Beneficiaries since the establishment in 1987:
Carina Brügman-Gyamfi and Susanne Kallenbach, Nikolaus Gierend und Sigrun Wassermann, Eva Koj and Armin “Köstlich”, Si-Sook Kang, Kap-Sun Hwang, Roswitha Winde, Petra Blohm and Matthias Gumm, Suanne Meissner