POSITION

Culture, education and civic life are among the fundamental conditions of a democratic society. They provide orientation, enable participation and foster critical engagement, helping to keep social relationships intelligible and open to negotiation. Culture is not an additional amenity, but an integral part of the conditions under which social coexistence can succeed.

The work of KM13 is rooted in the tradition of an expanded concept of art as articulated by Professor Joseph Beuys (1921–1986). Within this understanding, art is not confined to the material artwork, but is conceived as a social practice – as the capacity of individuals to influence their environment and social processes through shared thinking, action and creative engagement.

From this perspective, art cannot be taken for granted. It questions its own premises, forms and legitimacy. The less it can be assumed as self-evident, the more it depends on context, argumentation and communication. Against this background, KM13 understands itself as a place where art is presented, tested and discussed as a form of knowledge.

KM13 is operated by the association de DROM e. V., an organisation dedicated to the promotion of culture, education and civic life in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Honorary members include Dr Karl Kauermann and Professor Günther Uecker (1930–2025).