The House for Media Art is a space where contemporary media art is exhibited and discussed, like a channel through which information on art, society, and new media flows.

The regularly changing exhibition program presents innovative and experimental positions within international contemporary art. Presentations, artist talks, and workshops promote public discourse on contemporary art and its relationship to the social reality from which it stems.

The House for Media Art supports the realization of several new artistic projects every year, thus contributing to artistic production, experimental collaboration, and critical exchange. We consider these newly commissioned pieces to be important inspirations in shaping the program and overall direction of the institution.

The House for Media Art’s program not only focuses on the ways in which today’s technologies influence the shaping and defining of artistic ideas, but it also celebrates artists who have the vision and power to conceive speculative designs for the future by critically examining the present.

The House for Media Art opened in 2000 under the name Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art. It was directed by Rosanne Altstatt (2001-2004), Sabine Himmelsbach (2005-2012), Claudia Giannetti (2013-2014), and Edit Molnár & Marcel Schwierin (2015-present).

About the history of the house

The house was made possible by a donation from Edith Ruß (1919-1993), a journalist, educator and private art collector. She wanted to enrich her home town of Oldenburg with a house of art that would be "a worthy transition to the year 2000" and aesthetically inspired by the architecture of the Bauhaus and Mies van der Rohe in particular. This idea formed the basis for the concept of the Medienkunsthaus with its exhibition spaces and apartments for invited artists. Her will also stipulated the name EDITH-RUSS-HAUS for the building. Additional funds from the legacy of educator Elisabeth Brand (1898-1993) were used to furnish the house.

The Nazi past of the donors

The initial sponsor of the Edith-Russ-Haus, Edith Maria Ruß, was a member of the BDM (Bund Deutscher Mädel / League of German Girls) and the NSDAP (from 1941). As Schriftleiterin (the National Socialist term for editor) for the feuilleton of the National Socialist newspaper Oldenburgische Staatszeitung, she published a number of articles with folkish-nationalist ideas between 1943 and 1945. After 1945, she concealed her party membership, even during the official denazification process. She never critically questioned her past. After the allegations against Edith Ruß became known at the beginning of 2024, the City of Oldenburg commissioned an expert report from historian Dr. Mareike Witkowski and historian Dr. Joachim Tautz to shed independent light on Edith Ruß's role in National Socialism. The report was completed in September 2024 and can be downloaded here (so far in German only, we are working on a translation).

As part of this appraisal, it was also established that the sponsor Elisabeth Brand was also a member of the NSDAP (from 1933). She was also a member of numerous other National Socialist organizations, such as the NS-Frauenschaft (Nazi Women's Association), the Nationalsozialistischen Volkswohlfahrt (National Socialist People's Welfare Association), the NS-Lehrerbund (Nazi Teachers' Association), the Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland (People's Association for Germanness Abroad), the Reichsluftschutzbund (Reich Air Protection Association) and the Reichskolonialbund (Reich Colonial Association). She was propaganda leader and local group treasurer for the NS women's organization in Varel and block administrator for the NS women's organization in Oldenburg. The academic report on Elisabeth Brand can be downloaded here soon.

The expert report on Edith Ruß was presented by Dr. Mareike Witkowski to the Cultural Committee of the Oldenburg City Council on 17 Sep 2024. The topic will be discussed further in the next Culture Committee on 19 Nov 2024. The location and exact date for this meeting can be found here.

Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann has spoken out in favor of a name change on the basis of the report: "In my view, it is no longer acceptable for a municipal cultural institution to use the name Edith Ruß in its title". The full press release from the City of Oldenburg can be found here (German only). The team at the Edith-Russ-Haus strongly supports a name change.

As announced, the Haus für Medienkunst invites you to a discussion on the results of the scientific investigations: on Friday, 25 October 2024 at 7.30 pm in the PFL Cultural Center (Peterstraße 3). You can find more information about this event here.