Stiftung Geissstrasse 7

Stiftung Geißstraße (until May 2025 known as Stiftung Geißstraße 7) is a non-profit foundation under civil law based in Stuttgart-Mitte, Germany. It was established in 1995 in response to the arson attack of 16 March 1994 that destroyed the house at Geißstraße 7, killing seven people and injuring sixteen. The building, which had belonged to the Stuttgarter Hofbräu brewery, was transferred to the newly founded foundation, which uses it as its headquarters and event venue. The foundation is dedicated to cultural, social, and urban-historical engagement, promoting democratic life in Stuttgart through public events, discussions, and publications. It organizes around 20 events annually, often in cooperation with other institutions, covering themes such as human rights, migration, and urban development. Notable projects include the "Denkblatt" series commemorating Stuttgart personalities and events, and the "Zeichen der Erinnerung" memorial at Stuttgart's Nordbahnhof, commemorating the deportation of over 2,000 Jewish people between 1941 and 1944. The foundation received the Kulturpreis from the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft in 2004 and an recognition award from the Stuttgarter Bürgerstiftung in 2003 for the "Zeichen der Erinnerung" project. It also runs a housing project for people in housing need, originally supported by the Stuttgart social welfare office. The foundation publishes books, postcards, and Denkblätter, and hosts external seminars, workshops, and private events in its foundation hall.

The foundation was established in 1995, one year after the arson attack on 16 March 1994 that destroyed the house at Geißstraße 7 in Stuttgart's old town. The fire was the largest catastrophe in Stuttgart since World War II, killing seven people and injuring sixteen, many of them refugees. The building, which dated from around 1900 and belonged to the Stuttgarter Hofbräu brewery, was transferred to the newly founded foundation, which has since used it as its seat and event venue. The foundation's housing project, which accommodated people in housing need, was intended as a sign against discrimination and racism; it was formerly supported by the Stuttgart social welfare office and supervised by social workers. In 2004, the foundation received the Kulturpreis from the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft. In 2001, the foundation, together with Infoladen Stuttgart 21, organized a student competition to design a memorial at Stuttgart's Nordbahnhof, where over 2,000 Jewish people were deported between 1941 and 1944. The results were evaluated on 4 May 2002. In 2004, the association "Zeichen der Erinnerung" was founded, and the memorial was inaugurated in summer 2006. In 2003, the Stuttgarter Bürgerstiftung awarded the foundation an recognition prize for the "Zeichen der Erinnerung" project. In 2011, the memorial was taken over by the association Zeichen der Erinnerung e.V. The foundation continues to organize around 20 events annually, often in cooperation with other institutions, and publishes books, postcards, and Denkblätter. In May 2025, the foundation changed its name from Stiftung Geißstraße 7 to Stiftung Geißstraße.

• 2025

  Renamed from Stiftung Geißstraße 7 to Stiftung Geißstraße in May.

• 2011

  Memorial taken over by Zeichen der Erinnerung e.V.

• 2006

  Memorial at Nordbahnhof inaugurated in summer.

• 2004

  Kulturpreis from Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft; association "Zeichen der Erinnerung" founded.

• 2003

  Recognition award from Stuttgarter Bürgerstiftung for "Zeichen der Erinnerung"; study trip "Zug nach Theresienstadt".

• 2002

  Competition results evaluated on 4 May.

• 2001

  Student competition for a memorial at Nordbahnhof organized with Infoladen Stuttgart 21.

• 1995

  Foundation established; building transferred to the foundation.

• 1994

  Arson attack on Geißstraße 7 on 16 March kills seven and injures sixteen.

Non-profit foundation for civic dialogue, culture, and remembrance in Stuttgart.

• Denkblatt series

  18 commemorative sheets on Stuttgart personalities and events.

• Zeichen der Erinnerung memorial

  Memorial at Stuttgart Nordbahnhof for deported Jewish people.

• Mein Stuttgart walking tours

  Walking tours led by Stuttgart personalities, in cooperation with Stuttgarter Zeitung.

• Publications

  Books, postcards, and Denkblätter on Stuttgart history and culture.

1. 1Startseite | Stiftung Geißstraßegeissstrasse.de
2. 2Stiftung Geissstrasse 7 - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Stiftung Geißstraße - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org