Bundespräsident lobt Emder Kunsthalle: "Außerordentliche Qualität"
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised the Emder Kunsthalle on its 40th anniversary, calling its collection of "extraordinary quality." The museum was founded in 1986 by Henri Nannen, the late founder of Stern magazine, and his wife Eske Nannen. Steinmeier spoke at a ceremony attended by 500 guests, including his wife Elke Büdenbender and Lower Saxony's Minister President Olaf Lies. The anniversary exhibition "Bilder, die wir lieben" (Pictures We Love) showcases 200 works from the collection, which has grown to around 1,700 pieces, including pieces by Gabriele Münter, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Max Beckmann, and Franz Marc.
The anniversary underscores the Kunsthalle's role as a cultural beacon in a rural region, fulfilling Henri Nannen's belief that art should reach beyond metropolitan centers. The museum has hosted over 2.5 million visitors and 180 special exhibitions in four decades. Eske Nannen's continued leadership and the 1999 donation of the Otto van de Loo collection have expanded its scope, making it one of northern Germany's most respected art museums. The event highlights the importance of regional museums in democratizing access to art and preserving cultural heritage outside major cities.