As a regional hub for the „New Patrons”, the Künstlerhaus Stuttgart connects citizens, mediators, and artists across the Stuttgart Metropolitan Region and Baden-Württemberg.
The „New Patrons” programme is aimed at people who want to make a local difference in the interest of the common good – whether to open up new perspectives, give expression to the unspoken, or give shape to desires. Teachers, parents, retirees, young people, agricultural engineers, civil rights activists, mechatronics engineers – anyone can become a „New Patron” and initiate public art projects.
Experienced mediators support the commissioners in formulating their idea as a concrete brief. They contribute their knowledge of art and propose an artist or artist group who will engage with the commissioners’ concerns. The resulting projects can take many different forms – from sculptures and architectural works to dance performances and garden designs.
The model was developed by Belgian artist François Hers, who created the „Protocole des Nouveaux Commanditaires” in the 1990s. It sets out guidelines for citizens, cultural producers, artists, and mediators, and has since brought together committed groups and artists across many countries.
Projects by the New Patrons
In May 2026, the New Patrons of Waiblingen signed their commission. Residents and local business owners have come together to jointly consider how they want to use, experience, and playfully appropriate their Fronackerstraße in the future.
Fronackerstraße is one of Waiblingen’s most vibrant streets – and yet it has an image problem. It is not always perceived the way the group of patrons experiences it: as a diverse, colorful place, shaped by different people and generations, right in the heart of the city. The group wants to counter this – not with a static, “finished” design project, but with a space of possibility that continually transforms through play, use, and appropriation.
The New Patrons of Waiblingen envision an artistic intervention that gives this street a distinctive, recognizable character – one that invites people to linger, to meet, and to tell stories. At the heart of the commission is the transformation of Fronackerstraße into a versatile urban space that deliberately opens up room for play. Green areas – such as planted islands, flower beds, or unsealed zones – are understood not merely as ecological measures, but as open playing fields that invite appropriation. Different areas for lingering emerge as flexible settings: seating becomes meeting points or stages, shaded spots become places of retreat or storytelling, transitional areas become zones for movement, interaction, and improvisation.
In October 2025, Stuttgart signed its first commission: the ‘Neue Auftraggeber von Stuttgart’ are seeking a work of art that brings to light what often remains hidden – the power, diversity and social significance of nightlife culture.
Clubs and music venues are under increasing economic pressure – declines in turnover of around 30 per cent are no exception. Yet they fulfil a social role that goes far beyond entertainment: they are places of encounter, social mixing and cultural diversity. As accessible spaces for exchange and creativity, they make a significant contribution to urban life – an impact that is felt in everyday life but rarely receives the recognition it deserves.
It was against this backdrop that the commission for a permanent artwork in the public space arose. It is not intended to address the economic situation of nightlife, but rather to highlight its social value: nightlife as infrastructure for creativity, community and urban openness.
Contact
For questions or further information, please contact project coordinator Natalia Sartori: neueauftraggeber@kuenstlerhaus.de
More information on projects across Germany: www.neueauftraggeber.de
