Schwerin's industrial wasteland becomes an extra class of the art location!

Schwerin's industrial wasteland becomes an extra class of the art location!

What is going on in Schwerin? An ambitious project takes on forms: the former motor vehicle repair plant "forward" is converted into a foam magazine for contemporary art. The plan is to create a unique place in Germany that makes art not only visible but also tangible. The site has been empty for about 30 years and has a sad picture with broken window panes and graffiti. The vision of the foam magazine is not only to exhibit art, but also to offer a space for research and collecting contemporary art. Works by greats such as Günther Uecker, Richard Serra, François Morellet and Jan Schoonhoven are to be presented here, such as NDR reported.

In the center of the project is the architect Max Dudler, who is known for his ability to transform industrial monuments into inspiring places. During the redesign, smoky metal gates are exchanged for light -flooded glass fronts to create inviting rooms. However, the financing of the renovation raises questions: While 5.2 million euros were originally calculated, the new estimate is 7.5 million euros. Here the city of Schwerin hopes for support - around 90 percent of the costs are to be covered by the federal government, while the city has to raise 500,000 euros itself. In addition, 1-2 million euros are still being sought for complete financing.

a place for everyone

The foam magazine is not only intended for art lovers. Rather, the offer is aimed at a wide audience: visitors, families, students and researchers are addressed here. The city of Schwerin provides impressive 4.72 million euros in urban development funding for the renovation of the first construction phase of the KIW district, which underlines the need to advance these important cultural projects. The funding has been running since 2020 and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Living, Urban Development and Building, such as Schaumagazin.org.

Another soft point is the planned opening date. Although the renovation work has already been started, a realistic opening is only sought for 2027. The idea of assigning an artist to each room, which is represented there with 8 to 20 works, eliminates the concept of similar initiatives in Switzerland.

funding for contemporary art

An interesting aspect of the art market in Germany is the funding that artists and initiatives can receive thanks to the artificial fund foundation. In 2022, 765,800 euros were awarded for exhibitions, publications and artist catalogs. The demand has decreased: compared to the previous year, the number of applications rose by a third to 695, which shows that the funding is very popular. The publications and artists in particular: Inner catalogs are the focus, which is valuable support for aspiring artists. Here, a deeper connection between the foam magazine and the current art scene can be felt, as the information on [kunstfonds.de] (https://www.kunstfonds.de/aktuelles/foerderprogramm/details/765800-Euro-fuer-time geneoessische-bildenden-kunst) make it clear.

On June 12, 2025, Max Dudler gives a lecture in the KIW garage complex entitled "Further. Transformation and Permanent". This event could be regarded as a further step in the development of the foam magazine and is a sign that something great is created here.

It remains exciting to see how the foam magazine will develop in the coming years. One thing is certain: a creative hub for contemporary art is built in Schwerin, which could attract many people if everything goes according to plan.