Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftung

The Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftung is a non-profit foundation established on 25 October 1996 by Sabine Wellmann-Heiliger, the fourth wife of the sculptor and painter Bernhard Heiliger, to preserve and make accessible his artistic estate. It is headquartered in Berlin-Dahlem at Käuzchensteig 8–12, in the historic studio building originally erected for Arno Breker, where Heiliger lived and worked from 1949 until his death in 1995. The foundation manages the rights to Heiliger's work, organizes exhibitions, and runs a sculpture garden containing more than twenty mostly abstract sculptures by the artist. Beyond custodianship of Heiliger's oeuvre, the foundation promotes lesser-known artists through the Bernhard-Heiliger-Stipendium (a grant) and awards the Bernhard-Heiliger-Preis für Skulptur, a €15,000 prize for sculpture presented every four years. Its subsidiary, Atelierhaus Dahlem gGmbH, operates the Kunsthaus Dahlem in the historic studio building, where art of German post-war modernism and Heiliger's work are shown. The foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (German Association of Foundations). The foundation has been led by a changing board: initially Sabine Wellmann and Lothar Romain, later Marc Wellmann (Heiliger's stepson) as curator and then chairman from 2005, followed by Walter Rasch in 2012. Sabine Wellmann was honorary chairwoman until her death in January 2021. As of February 2022, the board includes Friedrich Meschede. The foundation continues to digitize Heiliger's drawings and lithographs, supported by the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt, and hosts regular exhibitions and grant presentations in Heiliger's former studio.

The Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftung was founded on 25 October 1996 by Sabine Wellmann-Heiliger, the fourth wife of the sculptor and painter Bernhard Heiliger, to preserve his artistic estate and open it to the art world. The foundation is based in Berlin-Dahlem at Käuzchensteig 8–12, in the historic studio building originally constructed for Arno Breker between 1939 and 1942. Heiliger, a student and later collaborator of Breker, rented the eastern part of the building from the Berlin Senate in February 1949 and lived and worked there until his death in 1995. The building was placed under monument protection in June 1990. Initially, Sabine Wellmann and Lothar Romain, then president of the Hochschule der Künste, led the foundation. Heiliger's stepson Marc Wellmann served as curator and became chairman in 2005. In 2012, Walter Rasch was elected chairman, succeeding Sabine Wellmann, who remained honorary chairwoman until her death in January 2021. The board has seen several changes: Kai Drabe and Sabine Ziegenrücker were appointed in November 2015; from 1 January 2018, Sabine Ziegenrücker and Anna Distelkamp served; after Distelkamp left in February 2021, Astrid von Schönebeck joined; and in February 2022, Friedrich Meschede completed the board. The foundation manages the rights to Heiliger's work and promotes lesser-known artists through the Bernhard-Heiliger-Stipendium. Its subsidiary, Atelierhaus Dahlem gGmbH, operates the Kunsthaus Dahlem in the historic studio building, showing German post-war modernism and Heiliger's work. The foundation also awards the Bernhard-Heiliger-Preis für Skulptur, a €15,000 prize presented every four years to a living artist who has made a significant contribution to sculpture. Funding comes from rights exploitation and grants, such as from the Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin. The foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen. Recent activities include the digitization of Heiliger's drawings and lithographs, supported by the Senate Department for Culture, and regular exhibitions and grant presentations in Heiliger's former studio.

• 2022

  Friedrich Meschede completes the board in February.

• 2021

  Anna Distelkamp leaves in February; Astrid von Schönebeck joins. Sabine Wellmann dies in January.

• 2018

  Sabine Ziegenrücker and Anna Distelkamp take office on 1 January.

• 2015

  Kai Drabe and Sabine Ziegenrücker appointed to the board.

• 2012

  Walter Rasch elected chairman.

• 2005

  Marc Wellmann becomes chairman.

• 1996

  Foundation established on 25 October by Sabine Wellmann-Heiliger.

Non-profit foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Bernhard Heiliger and supporting contemporary sculpture.

• Bernhard-Heiliger-Stipendium

  Grant for emerging artists.

• Bernhard-Heiliger-Preis für Skulptur

  €15,000 prize awarded every four years to a living sculptor.

• Kunsthaus Dahlem

  Museum in the historic studio building, operated by Atelierhaus Dahlem gGmbH.

• Sculpture garden

  Garden with over 20 abstract sculptures by Heiliger.

1. 1Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftung – Official Websitebernhard-heiliger-stiftung.de
2. 2Geschichte des Ateliergebäudes – Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftungbernhard-heiliger-stiftung.de
3. 3Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftung – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Bernhard-Heiliger-Stiftung – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org