Dörfer zeigen Kunst — Salem

An Art Exhibition Across Thirteen Villages

The Amt Lauenburgische Seen, southeast of Lübeck in the district of Herzogtum Lauenburg, is one of Schleswig-Holstein's most scenic regions. Nestled between the Ratzeburger See, Schaalsee, and numerous smaller lakes, lie villages with no more than a few hundred inhabitants – and for years, an unusual summer exhibition. „Dörfer zeigen Kunst" transforms 13 villages each year with works by regional and national artists.

Salem as One of Thirteen Exhibition Venues

The municipality of Salem (around 1,000 inhabitants) has been a permanent exhibition venue for years. Two spaces are available in Salem:

• The Community Rooms of the municipality – indoor exhibition in historic spaces
• The Barn Seestraße 44 – atmospheric exhibition space with wooden beams and stable character

The works include painting (oil, acrylic), mixed media, textile art, sculpture, and photography. Artists such as Abi Agbede, Angelika Brandes, Kurt Plath, and Michael Wartmann have been featured in previous editions – the exact lineup for 2026 will be announced before the opening.

Central Opening on July 24 in Pogeez

The overall 2026 project will open on Friday, July 24, with a central vernissage at the new community centre in Pogeez. From the following Saturday, July 25, the exhibition will run concurrently in all participating villages: Albsfelde, Bäk, Behlendorf, Buchholz, Einhaus, Groß Disnack, Groß Grönau, Kittlitz, Neu-Horst, Salem, Seedorf, Sterley, and Ziethen – plus two exhibition venues in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Thandorf and Utecht).

More Than an Exhibition – A Supporting Programme

The exhibition is accompanied by a diverse supporting programme: vernissages in individual villages, workshops, readings, concerts. This makes „Dörfer zeigen Kunst" a summer event for the region and a form of gentle cultural tourism that avoids mass audiences – focusing instead on the discovery of small places.