Art house, cultural center
MonasteryHörstel
DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst
The DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst in Steinfurt, North Rhine-Westphalia, is a place that combines the historical significance of a former Cistercian nunnery with a vibrant program of contemporary art. The initials "DA" stand for "Denkmal-Atelier" (Monument-Studio), referring to its dual function as a historical heritage site and a creative workshop. The house offers a diverse range of activities, from art exhibitions and historical presentations to light, sound, and garden art, as well as cultural festivals, concerts, and markets.
History+
In 1256, Konrad von Brochterbeck and Amalgardis von Budde founded a Cistercian nunnery in Grauenhorst, dedicated to the Mother of God, Mary. For over five centuries, a community of women lived here, devoted to self-sanctification, praising God, and remembrance. With the French takeover in Westphalia, the monastery was dissolved in 1808. After several changes of ownership in the 19th and 20th centuries, a supporting association acquired the complex in 1986. In 1999, it was transferred to the Steinfurt district under a hereditary building right agreement, which carried out extensive archaeological investigations and renovations. The idea of transforming the former monastery into an art house emerged during the Skulptur Biennale Münsterland in 2001. As part of Regionale 2004, the DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst was finally opened in the summer of the same year.
Location+
The Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst is situated in the rural community of Gravenhorst, near the town of Hörstel, in the Steinfurt district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
On site+
Today, the DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst serves as a center for art and culture. It hosts exhibitions, offers project scholarships, and is the venue for various events such as open-air cinema and the monastery market "Marktzauber." The historical presentation "Geschichte hinterm Giebel" (History Behind the Gable) annually highlights changing aspects of the monastery's history.
Nearby+
- Schloss Surenburg (Riesenbeck) (Castle, approx. 3735 m away)
- Ruine Ibbenbüren (Ibbenbüren) (Ruin, approx. 6814 m away)
- Schloss Falkenhof (Rheine) (Castle, approx. 12829 m away)
- Schloss Langenbrück (Westerkappeln) (Castle, approx. 13396 m away)
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Location: 52.2872, 7.6242