Lia Mostra d'Ert / Circolo Artistico e Culturale / Kreis für Kunst und Kultur

Lia Mostra d'Ert / Circolo Artistico e Culturale / Kreis für Kunst und Kultur is a non-profit artists' and cultural association based in St. Ulrich (Ortisei) in Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Italy. It was founded in 1920 as an exhibition association (Ausstellungsverein) by a group of local sculptors and cultural figures, including Vinzenz Moroder-Resciesa, August Runggaldier Furdenan, Jakob Mussner Scizr, Jakob Crepaz Maidl, Konrad Pitscheider and Ludwig Moroder. Its original purpose was to allow Val Gardena's woodcarvers and sculptors to exhibit and sell their work directly, bypassing intermediaries, and to raise the artistic quality of local craft. Over the decades the association broadened its scope from a purely exhibition-oriented body to a general cultural organisation, changing its name several times: Ausstellungsverein, Kreis der Kunstschaffenden / Circolo degli Artisti, and from 1972 Kreis für Kunst und Kultur / Circolo artistico e culturale / Lia Mostra d'Ert. The association is headquartered in a building on Piazza Sant'Antone in Ortisei, constructed in 1937 with contributions from craftsmen and support from the local podestà Arturo Tanesini. Its ground-floor exhibition space covers more than 100 m² and hosts temporary exhibitions, while the association also maintains an art library with over 2,000 volumes, organises cultural trips, lectures, concerts and film forums, and publishes occasional cultural periodicals. Membership is open to art lovers and artists; annual dues are €15.00, entitling members to borrow books from the art library, receive discounts at events, and stay informed about activities. The association is governed by a committee of ten members and has more than 200 members. As of 2026 the president is Valeria Stuflesser, with Mirko Insam as vice-president and other committee members responsible for finance, library, artistic direction, graphics and technical matters. The organisation has played a significant role in the cultural life of Val Gardena, particularly in the woodcarving and sculpture traditions for which the valley is famous. It has weathered economic crises, the fascist period, the Second World War, and the tensions between traditional and modern art in the postwar decades. Today it continues to host contemporary art exhibitions, such as the 2026 group show "con.tain #4" featuring Alan Biehlig, Clara Pötsch, Nele Hendrikje Sandner, Katharina Schreiter and Teresa Szepes, and remains a focal point for artists and cultural events in the region.

The association was founded in 1920 as an exhibition association (Ausstellungsverein) by a group of Val Gardena sculptors and cultural figures, including Vinzenz Moroder-Resciesa, August Runggaldier Furdenan, Jakob Mussner Scizr, Jakob Crepaz Maidl, Konrad Pitscheider and Ludwig Moroder. The initiative responded to an economic crisis that severely affected the valley's woodcarvers, who needed a direct channel to exhibit and sell their work without relying on intermediaries. The association organised annual exhibitions where sculptors could present their pieces to interested buyers, and it aimed to raise the artistic quality of local woodcarving. Initially, some pieces were sold to tourists from displays in the local elementary school. In 1937, during the fascist period, the association built its current premises on Piazza Sant'Antone in St. Ulrich, with contributions from craftsmen and support from the podestà Arturo Tanesini. The building became known as the House of the Mostra d'Ert. Early presidents included Vinzenz Moroder da Resciesa, Luis Kostner da Stlejuc, Karl Crepaz da Maidl, Luis Pezzei and Vinzenz Peristi. In autumn 1945, younger forces took over the leadership, among them Viktor Moroder dl Tannenheim, Raimund Mureda, Milly Schmalzl and Rudolf Moroder-Rudolfine. After the Second World War, the association resumed its exhibitions with great success. In 1947, it separated artisan work from more artistic work, displaying them in two different rooms: the more artistic pieces in the House of the Lia Mostra d'Ert on Piazza Sant'Antone, and the more traditional ones in the elementary school building. That year the name was changed from Ausstellungsverein to Kreis der Kunstschaffenden / Circolo degli Artisti, and a rule was introduced that only contemporary works reflecting the artist's personality would be exhibited. The tension between modernity and tradition grew, and after the 1952 and 1953 exhibitions the committee split, leading to the birth of the Ruscél group. In the 1960s, as sacred art declined in Val Gardena due to the Second Vatican Council and the introduction of carving machines, the association began organising collective exhibitions abroad, including at the Galleria Agostiniana in Rome. In Ortisei, alongside collective shows, it hosted exhibitions by foreign artists such as painter Karl Plattner, sculptor Augusto Murer and ceramicist Angelo Biancini. The association also began organising cultural trips, conferences, concerts and film forums. In November 1969, after much discussion, a new committee was elected with many young members who had studied at art academies and had been part of the 1968 movements, including Franz Schrott, Albert Moroder, Manfred Mureda, Norbert Moroder, Adolf Kostner, Egon Moroder, Markus Schenk, Leander Piazza and Wilfried Senoner. An exhibition at the Circolo house that caused a stir was MAMALEEG by Manfred Mureda, Markus Schenk, Leander Piazza and Egon Moroder. In 1971 a magazine called Sckat was published with caricatures, texts and poems in various languages. In 1972 the name was changed to Kreis für Kunst und Kultur / Circolo artistico e culturale / Lia Mostra d'Ert, reflecting the broader cultural activities. In 1973 the premises were renovated with a new library and shelves for over 2,000 books, mostly on art. In 1996 the cooperative Unika was founded, taking over the functions of the Lia Mostra d'Ert in promoting and selling the artistic craftwork of Val Gardena. In 2007 a new building was inaugurated after the old one was closed, named "Cësa per la junanza, ert y cultura" (House for youth, art and culture). From 2009 to 2012 the cultural magazine "Puhin" was published with articles and poems in various languages, edited by Ivan Senoner, Tobia Moroder, Simon Perathoner, Diego Perathoner, Fabio Perathoner and Lukas Pitscheider. The association continues to be active, hosting exhibitions and cultural events, and in 2020 it celebrated its centenary with a publication.

• 2026

  Exhibition "con.tain #4" opens on 21 August 2026.

• 2020

  Centenary of the association, celebrated with a publication.

• 2009

  Start of publication of the cultural magazine "Puhin" (until 2012).

• 2007

  Inauguration of a new building named "Cësa per la junanza, ert y cultura".

• 1996

  Founding of the cooperative Unika, which took over the promotional and sales functions of the Lia Mostra d'Ert.

• 1973

  Renovation of premises with a new art library holding over 2,000 books.

• 1972

  Name changed to Kreis für Kunst und Kultur / Circolo artistico e culturale / Lia Mostra d'Ert.

• 1971

  Publication of the magazine Sckat with caricatures, texts and poems.

• 1969

  New committee elected with many young artists; provocative exhibition MAMALEEG held.

• 1952

  Split in the committee after tensions between modern and traditional art; Ruscél group formed.

• 1947

  Separation of artisan and artistic works; name changed to Kreis der Kunstschaffenden / Circolo degli Artisti.

• 1945

  Younger members take over leadership after World War II.

• 1937

  Construction of the association's building on Piazza Sant'Antone in St. Ulrich, with support from podestà Arturo Tanesini.

• 1920

  Founding of the Ausstellungsverein (exhibition association) in St. Ulrich by local sculptors.

A historic, member-based cultural association promoting artists and art in Val Gardena, bridging traditional woodcarving heritage and contemporary art.

• Annual summer exhibition

  A recurring exhibition of local and invited artists, historically held in summer.

• Art library

  A library with over 2,000 volumes, mostly on art, open to members.

• Cultural magazine "Puhin"

  Published from 2009 to 2012, featuring articles and poems in various languages.

• Magazine "Sckat"

  Published in 1971 with caricatures, texts and poems.

1. 1Circolo - Lia Mostra d'Ert official websitede.circolo.org
2. 2geschichte | circolode.circolo.org
3. 3über uns | circolode.circolo.org
4. 4Wikidata entrywikidata.org
5. 5Lia Mostra d’Ert - Wikipedia (Ladin)lld.wikipedia.org