The WESTSTERN Förderpreis 2026 highlights the diverse and vital work of art associations across North Rhine-Westphalia. The awards ceremony took place on September 5, 2026, in Cologne as part of DC Open. This year’s winners are Kunstverein Siegen, Westfälischer Kunstverein and Kunstverein Unna, while NAK Neuer Aachener Kunstverein received a special recognition. At the heart of the award is the belief that art associations are essential spaces for experimentation, exchange and the development of new artistic perspectives.

With a total prize fund of €90,000, the annual award is one of the key accolades supporting the independent art scene in NRW. Outstanding work is recognised across three categories: annual programme, exhibition and engagement. In addition, the jury awards a special recognition worth €10,000.

The €40,000 prize for the most compelling annual programme went to Kunstverein Siegen, whose focus on urban transformation, public space and participation particularly impressed the jury. A highlight was the group exhibition “_STADT”, presented inside the former KARSTADT department store. Transforming the vacant building into an open space for art and exchange, the exhibition turned an inner-city “lost place” into a destination that also reached audiences who might not typically visit traditional art institutions.

Westfälischer Kunstverein was recognised for an exhibition that brought a previously overlooked female artist to greater attention in Europe. Kunstverein Unna was honoured for its commitment to making art more visible within the urban environment. The special recognition went to NAK Neuer Aachener Kunstverein for an installation combining ceramics, drawing and an exploration of queer spaces to open up new perspectives on bodies, identity and space.