NordArt — International Art Exhibition

One of the largest contemporary art shows in Europe

NordArt was initiated by the ACO Group in 1999 and has since developed into one of the most significant exhibitions of contemporary art in Europe — both in terms of quantity (over 200 artists from more than 50 countries) and international renown. The format is a non-profit initiative by the ACO Group, the iron foundry group based in Rendsburg, and the cities of Büdelsdorf and Rendsburg.

The Carlshütte as an exhibition venue

The venue is the Kunstwerk Carlshütte — a former 19th-century iron foundry, now used as a monumental industrial building for art. 22,000 m² of indoor exhibition space are spread across several halls with different characteristics: light-flooded large halls, narrow corridors, intimate chambers, and impressive hall impressions with historical iron structures.

The Sculpture Park

NordArt is surrounded by an 80,000 m² sculpture park — a walkable landscape with over 100 large-format sculptures. The area is open daily throughout the summer and is part of the overall artwork NordArt.

The Curatorial Trio

NordArt is curated by Wolfgang Gramm, who initiated the festival in 1999, together with Inga Aru and Taso Gramm. The team selects annually from thousands of submissions from around the world — NordArt is among the most submitted art exhibitions in Europe. International focus and thematic breadth are characteristic.

The NordArt Awards

Two awards are presented during the exhibition:

• NordArt Prize — Main prize for outstanding artistic achievement
• Public Choice Award — Audience award

The Accompanying Program — ACO Thormannhalle

The ACO Thormannhalle, with 1,200 seats, is the concert and event stage on the NordArt grounds. Over the summer, it hosts:

• Concerts of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (SHMF)
• Poetry Slams
• Dance performances
• Readings and literary events
• Opening and closing receptions

In the Rendsburg-Eckernförde District

Büdelsdorf is located immediately north of Rendsburg in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The NordArt site is accessible via the A7 motorway (exit Rendsburg/Büdelsdorf) — a central location that allows international visitors to travel from Hamburg, Kiel, and Flensburg.