Hendrik Bicknäse
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Sitz der GfK in Göttingen
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The GfK (Society for Cultural Exchange) is an internationally active non-governmental organization (NGO). The non-profit Cultural Institute for International Understanding and Art is a German intermediary organization for international cultural exchange, headquartered in Göttingen. The Cultural Institute for International Understanding was founded in 1985 on the initiative of Hendrik Bicknäse. The impetus for its establishment came from several municipalities and cities. In 1986, the institute was officially registered as a non-profit association in Göttingen, with the addition of the name "Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft für Kulturaustausch e.V." (Registered at the Göttingen District Court under VR 1723). Its members included culturally active artists, journalists, writers, and social scientists. Contact centers in regions and cities throughout Germany—primarily in northern and western Germany, as well as in Berlin—were initiated by members. Three full-time positions were created by the beginning of 1987.
Goals and tasks
The cultural institute's goal is to promote cultural exchange, offering information about the cultures of other countries and regions throughout Germany through art exhibitions and other events, and fostering an understanding of their unique characteristics. A particular focus of its work is the promotion and dissemination of visual art, literature, and music that reflect the everyday life of other cultures. In this sense, the institute contributes to international understanding, the well-being of society and the individual, and a better understanding of people within their cultural environment and homeland.
Young artists from abroad are nominated for various artist grants and supported with exhibitions. The institute also assists in establishing town twinning partnerships.
Interlectual dialogue
Under the slogan "International Understanding, Art and Culture," the Society for Cultural Exchange outlines its primary tasks. Intercultural dialogue in the fields of art and culture, as well as peacebuilding, is pursued without denominational, political, or economic affiliations, primarily through the "Connecting Cultures" program:
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Organization of exhibitions, literary events, and musical performances;
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Publishing of informational materials;
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Promotion of artistic projects both domestically and internationally;
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Maintaining international relationships with cultural professionals, their schools, academies, and related organizations;
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Engaging with key influencers in the media and the public cultural sector;
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Collecting and exchanging cultural products;
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Providing formal and extracurricular education and information;
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Advising and providing information on cultural and technical issues;
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Promoting culture and art at the regional, national, and international levels;
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Supporting artists and cultural professionals in vulnerable environments.
The aim is to stimulate and develop judgment and competent self-awareness regarding representations of foreign countries and cultures in the media, and to promote the ability to experience and recognize the significance of cultural diversity in its various aspects.
Zbigniew Sprycha, Öl auf Leinwand, 120 x 80, 1984
Cooperation
The work is often carried out in collaboration with the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa) Stuttgart, the Cultural Department of the Federal Foreign Office, and the Goethe Institutes. In this collaboration, in addition to artistic quality, particular emphasis is placed on regional focus, sustainability, and cooperative partnerships with institutions and individuals in the host country.
Presenting German art and culture abroad is another objective. Increasingly important is the cultural exchange with representatives of cultures outside Germany on an equal footing, which opens up new perspectives and initiates processes that influence societies, including German society.
As a German intermediary organization for foreign cultural policy, the GfK (Society for Cultural Research) is an NGO committed to art without borders and dialogue between civil societies worldwide. It also participated in the development process of the German Cultural Council. Until 2007, Bicknäse, as chairman of the institute, curated numerous major art exhibitions (see ART Nürnberg 5, April 26–29, 1990, ISBN 3-9802337-0-7: special exhibition “Young Thailand” with funding from the Federal Foreign Office, Bonn). This work was carried out through collaborations with the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa) in Stuttgart, the House of World Cultures in Berlin, the art academies in Poland, the Association of Visual Artists of the GDR, and the Academy of Arts of the GDR. (See exhibition catalog: “Homage to Bertolt Brecht,” Augsburg and Göttingen 1988; (33) Göttinger Tageblatt, July 2, 1988: “artistically and politically provoked in several ways” + (34) HNA, July 4, 1988: “GDR exhibition ‘Homage to Brecht’”) In this respect, the GfK's work was also understood as a contribution to overcoming the Cold War in cultural policy.
(Funding problems led to the (temporary) cessation of the institute's work at the end of 2007.)
Members
Besides a number of cities, districts and municipalities in northern and western Germany, similar institutions such as the ifa in Stuttgart, art colleges and academies, artists' centers and museums, individual artists, artists' groups, social scientists and publicists, associations and companies are cooperation partners, members or supporting members.