Protecting threatened monuments together & building bridges at the same time!

The VKF is the Association for the Promotion of Art and Culture in the New Federal States. Founded shortly after German reunification, it aims to contribute to the integration of East and West through collaborative efforts to preserve endangered historic buildings. Once a year, our workshop takes us to churches, castles, manor houses, and other historic buildings of magical beauty—from Thuringia to Romania, from Mecklenburg to Hungary. Over a long weekend, a team of up to 60 VKF members gathers there and pitches in wherever hard-working hands are needed.

It’s always amazing how much can be accomplished in just a few days: buildings are protected against water damage, church frescoes are uncovered, and even archaeological excavations are carried out under expert guidance. But the VKF workshops are about much more than just preserving or restoring a historic building. Through working together, organizing the workshop, and celebrating together in the evening, a special sense of camaraderie emerges that breaks down barriers—between East and West as well as between people from very different backgrounds.