In the location's words:

The Kölnischer Kunstverein was founded in 1839 and is one of the oldest institutions for contemporary, young positions in the Rhineland. Many of the artists exhibited here early on - such as Max Ernst (1919), Hans Arp (1919) and Paul Klee (1932) - have long since become established figures in art history. Exhibitions such as Happening and Fluxus, curated by Harald Szeemann in 1970, have made exhibition history. Recently, too, the Kunstverein has repeatedly shown outstanding artists and promising talents in an exciting mix. In this way, the Kölnischer Kunstverein has been making a relevant contribution to the question of what new art is for over 180 years.