Sommerakademie Schwalenberg

The Painters' Town on the Lippe Hills

In southeastern Lippe, on the edge of the Teutoburg Forest, lies a small town known for one thing: the Malerstadt Schwalenberg (Painters' Town Schwalenberg). Since the 19th century, the medieval town has attracted artists who capture the picturesque cityscape, Schwalenberg Castle, and the surrounding hilly landscape in watercolor, oil, and drawing. The Sommerakademie Schwalenberg emerged from this tradition in 1978 and will enter its 36th edition in 2026: from Wednesday, July 22, to Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Four Weeks of Art Courses at the Werkhaus

The academy is based at the Werkhaus on Marktstraße 19 in Schwalenberg — a half-timbered house from the 16th century, now serving as an atelier and course building. For four weeks, 9 instructors will offer courses in classical and experimental arts. Those planning a summer holiday that is also an art holiday can book one or more weeks here.

The 2026 Course Offerings

The 2026 program covers the entire spectrum of visual arts:

• Painting in oil, egg tempera, and watercolor
• Drawing (classical drawing, plein air, visual design)
• Sculpture in soapstone and sandstone
• Ceramics with its own kiln at the artists' house (newly acquired)
• Combined course: Clay figure + ceramic firing
• Plein-air painting in the surrounding landscape
• Printmaking (two-week course)
• Wood sculpture — New in 2026 with Ulrich Rothmund

Open Day: July 30, 2026

Anyone who wants to get an impression of the academy without enrolling in a course is welcome on Open Day: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM. Interested parties can visit the course rooms, talk to instructors and participants, and get information on registration, materials, and format on-site. Registration on Open Day: Vera Scheef, Tel. 05261/250264.

Organizers: City & Kulturagentur Lippe

The organizers are the City of Schieder-Schwalenberg and the Kulturagentur Lippe. Registration and payment are done online via the ticket shop of kulturagentur-online.de. The academy is an important cultural economic factor for the town: four weeks of course operations bring hundreds of course participants to the small painters' town, who stay in guesthouses, holiday apartments, and restaurants.

Schwalenberg — Lippe's Medieval Hill Town

Schwalenberg has been a district of Schieder-Schwalenberg in the Lippe district since 1970. The small hill town with its nearly 5,000 inhabitants and its almost completely preserved medieval town center (Schwalenberg Castle, half-timbered houses, narrow alleys) has been an attraction for artists for over 130 years. The Schwalenberg Painters' Colony has a long tradition — Friedrich Roeber, Anton Köhler, Karl Stauffer-Bern, and others painted here. The Sommerakademie is the contemporary continuation of this tradition.