The Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst was founded on 30 July 1980 in Bremen as a non-profit art association (Kunstverein). At the same time, renovation of the spaces in the Weserburg began so that the first exhibition could take place in February 1981. Since then, the GAK has shown over 200 exhibitions and is one of the most important art institutions in Northern Germany. It is member of the ADKV, Germany’s umbrella organization for art associations.

Awards
2023, ominated for the “ADKV-ART COLOGNE Preis”
2013, nominated for the “ART COLOGNE-ADKV Prize”
2012, nominated for the “ART COLOGNE-ADKV Prize”, Special appreciation of the jury
2012, “The Walters Prize 2012” for Kate Newbys exhibition „Crawl Out Your Window“, GAK 2010
2001, “Adam Elsheimer Prize” of the ART FRANKFURT

Profile
From the very beginning, the GAK’s declared aim has been to exhibit contemporary art. What was understood by this changed. In the still young history of the Kunstverein, only a few striking aspects should be mentioned: the initial strong orientation toward the Bremen art scene; the exhibition “Roxy’s” by Edward Kienholz, which has since become, in a sense, a cornerstone of the collection at the Neues Museum Weserburg; the sound installations that determined the program as an important focus in the 1980s; then, in the 1990s, the slow but clear transition from more formal-media, space-oriented exhibitions of installation, photography, and painting to a reflection of the intensified artistic engagement with autobiography, identity, culture, and politics. The following twenty years were characterized by an increasing focus on art in public space, internationalization, institutional professionalization and enhanced cooperation with universities and art academies. At the same time, its exposed location on the Weser Island – in the same building complex with the Weserburg Museum für moderne Kunst and the Center for Artists’ Publications – was subject of an important cultural-political debate on the location of the “Teerhof” areal.

Literature
Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst, Bremen. 2000–1980
Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst e.V., Bremen. 1995–1980  

The GAK was founded on 30.07.1980 by Prof. Jürgen Waller (initiator), Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Luc Lepère, Jub Mönster, Günter Roeder, Udo Seinsoth, Margret Storck, Otto Völker and Rolf-Andreas Wienbeck.

Directors
Annette Hans, 10/2021–
Sarah Maria Kaiser & Anne Storm (interim) 01–09/2021
Regina Barunke, 2019–2020
Janneke de Vries, 2008–2018
Gabriele Mackert, 2004–2007
Dr. Eva Schmidt, 1992–2004
Barbara Claassen-Schmal, 1983–1992
Dr. Dorothée Bauerle, 1983
Dr. Knut Nievers, 1980–1982

Boards and Committees
2021–2017
Board: David Bartusch (Chairman), Daniel de Olano (Deputy Chairman), Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (Deputy Chairman), Michael Schaefers (Treasurer), Marion Bertram (Secretary)

2015
Board: David Bartusch (1st Chairman), Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (Deputy Chairman), Daniel de Olano (Deputy Chairman), Thomas Oberem (Treasurer), Marion Bertram (Secretary)

2011
Board: David Bartusch (1st Chairman), Barbara Alms (Deputy Chairwoman), Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (Deputy Chairman), Dieter Eckert (Treasurer), Marion Bertram (Secretary)

2009
Board: Dr. Knut Nievers (1st Chairman), Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (Deputy Chairman), Dieter Eckert (Deputy Chairman), Frauke Ellßel (Treasurer), Karin Puck (Secretary)

2007
Board: Dr. Knut Nievers (1st Chairman), Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (Deputy Chairman), Frauke Ellßel (Treasurer), Karin Puck (Secretary)

2006
Board: Gisela Wohlfarth (1st Chairwoman), Bernd Becker (2nd Chairman), Karin Puck (2nd Chairwoman), Gerhard Meyer (Treasurer), Uwe Waldmann (Secretary)

2005–2004
Board: Gisela Wohlfarth (1st Chairwoman), Bernd Becker (2nd Chairman), Joachim Klement (2nd Chairman), Gerhard Meyer (Treasurer), Karin Puck (Secretary)

2003–2001
Board: Gisela Wohlfarth (1st Chairwoman), Bernd Becker (2nd Chairman), Joachim Klement (2nd Chairman), Gerhard Meyer (Treasurer), Michael Kasprick (Schriftführer)

2000–1996
Board: Gisela Wohlfahrt (1st Chairwoman), Bernd Becker (2nd Chairman), Michael Kasprick (3rd Chairman), Gerd Meyer (Treasurer)

1995–1994
Board: Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (1st Chairman), Luc Lepère (2nd Chairman), Rainer B. Schossig (3rd Chairman), Gerhard Meyer (Treasurer), Michael Kasprick, Uwe Kirsch, Gisela Wohlfahrt

1994–1993
Board: Dr. Joachim Kreibohm (1st Chairman), Luc Lepère (2nd Chairman), Uwe Kirsch (3rd Chairman), Gerhard Meyer (Treasurer), Rainer Berthold Schossig (Secretary)

1992–1991
Board: Birgit Waller (1st Chairwoman), Jürgen Blunck (2nd Chairman), Dr. Ruth Wöbkemeier (3rd Chairwoman) Coordination Committee: Barbara Alms, Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Susanne Bollenhagen, Jürgen Blunck, Imgard Dahms, Wolfram Goldrapp, Silke Hennig, Addi Jürgens, Michael Lapuks, Birgit Waller, Rainer Weisel

1991–1989
Board: Wolfgang Goldapp (1st Chairman), Michael Kasprick (2nd Chairman, Treasurer), Birgit Waller (Secretary) Coordination Committee: Barbara Alms, Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Imgard Dahms, Maria A. Mahlberg-Tippel, Hans-Detlef Mathis, Tilman Rothermel, Prof. Wolfgang Schmitz, Udo Seinsoth, Mathias Spiecker, Birgit Waller, Rainer Weisel, Ruth Wöbkemeier

1988–1986
Board: Wolfgang Goldapp (1st Chairman), Prof. Wolfgang Schmitz (2nd Chairman), Michael Kasprick (3rd Chairman, Treasurer) Coordination Committee: Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Imgard Dahms, Wolfgang Goldapp, Michael Kasprick, Maria A. Mahlberg-Tippel, Hans-Detlef Mathis, Tilman Rothermel, Prof. Wolfgang Schmitz, Udo Seinsoth, Mathias Spiecker, Ruth Wöbkemeier

1986–1984
Board: Luc Lepère (1st Chairman), Udo Seinsoth (2nd Chairman, Treasurer), Prof. Bernd Altenstein (3rd Chairman) Coordination Committee: Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Imgard Dahms, Luc Lepère, Maria A. Mahlberg-Tippel, Hans-Detlef Mathis, B. Jub Mönster, Hartmut Neumann, Prof. Wolfgang Schmitz, Renate Paulsen, Udo Seinsoth, Mathias Spiecker, Ruth Wöbkemeier

1984–1982
Board: Prof. Bernd Altenstein (1st Chairman), Luc Lepère (2nd Chairman), Udo Seinsoth (3rd Chairman) Coordination Committee: Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Imgard Dahms, Luc Lepère, Maria A. Mahlberg-Tippel, Hans-Detlef Mathis, B. Jub Mönster, Renate Paulsen, Edgar H. Puvogel, Udo Seinsoth, Mathias Spiecker, Prof. Jürgen Waller; kooptiert: Dr. Knut Nievers

1982–1980
Board: Prof. Jürgen Waller, Luc Lepère, Rolf-Andreas Wienbeck Coordination Committee: Prof. Bernd Altenstein, Dr. Guido Boulboullé, Luc Lepère, B. Jub Mönster, Thomas Recker, Günther Roeder, Jürgen Schmiedekampf, Margret Storck, Otto Völker, Prof. Jürgen Waller, Rolf-Andreas Wienbeck