University of Fine Arts of Hamburg

The Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg (HFBK Hamburg) is the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg. It dates to 1767, when it was called the Hamburger Gewerbeschule; later it became known as Landeskunstschule Hamburg. The main building, located in the Uhlenhorst quarter of Hamburg-Nord borough, was designed by architect Fritz Schumacher, and built between 1911 and 1913. In 1970, it was accredited as an artistic-scientific university.

Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg
Main building
TypePublic university
Established1767 (1767)
PresidentMartin Köttering
Students650
Location,
Websitehfbk-hamburg.de/en

History

The Hamburger Gewerbeschule (Hamburg Vocational School) was founded in 1767 by the Patriotische Gesellschaft (Patriotic Society). It was named the Staatliche Kunstgewerbeschule in 1896, later the Landeskunstschule (State School of Art). Fritz Schumacher designed the main building especially for the art school. Located at Am Lerchenfeld 2 in Uhlenhorst, a quarter of Hamburg-Nord, it was built between 1911 and 1913. After World War II, it re-opened as the Landeskunstschule by Friedrich Ahlers-Hestermann, who had previously been a professor at the Kölner Werkschulen (Cologne Academy of Fine Arts). He was succeeded by architect Gustav Hassenpflug, who changed the institution to the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg. The school was accredited as a university in 1970.[1]

Introduction of tuition sparks protest

In July 2007, a scandal occurred when the university administration under Martin Köttering came under political pressure to expel students for having protested newly introduced tuition fees. Joerg Draeger and the Hamburg Senate, dominated by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) demanded expulsion of more than half of the art students for having taken part in a tuition boycott. The scandal gained nationwide press coverage.[2] In June 2008, about 680 students were enrolled at HFBK Hamburg.

Stolpersteine

Two stolpersteine memorials to victims of Nazism have been laid for two faculty members. Friedrich Adler, who taught at the Kunstgewerbeschule from 1907 until his forced retirement in 1933, was killed in Auschwitz in 1942. Hugo Meier-Thur, who taught from 1910 to 1943, was killed at Fuhlsbüttel concentration camp in 1943.[3]

Notable faculty members

Notable former faculty members and alumni

References

  1. "HFBK History". HFBK Hamburg. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. "Kunst als Protest" (in German). Die Zeit. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  3. "Stolpersteine vor der Kunsthochschule. Gedenkfeier am Lerchenfeld." In: Hohenfelder und Uhlenhorster Rundschau, No. 3/2009, p. 14

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