ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe stands as a globally unique cultural institution, redefining the traditional roles of museums by embracing an expansive spectrum of media and genres. Established in 1989, ZKM has been dedicated to integrating classical arts into the digital age. The founding phase was marked by artist and author Jürgen Claus's concept of an "electronic Bauhaus," which evolved under Peter Weibel's direction into the "digital Bauhaus." ZKM excels in merging research with production, exhibitions with performances, and housing extensive collections and archives alongside vibrant educational and public programs. As a hub for all media and genres, ZKM houses both spatial arts like painting, photography, and sculpture, and time-based arts including film, video, media art, music, dance, theater, and performance. This interdisciplinary approach allows ZKM to not only showcase but also produce pioneering developments in 20th and 21st-century art and media. Complementing its artistic and educational endeavors, ZKM actively engages in symposia and theoretical discussions that intersect art, philosophy, science, technology, economics, and politics, providing a critical examination of the effects of medialization, digitalization, and globalization on society. This multifaceted focus positions ZKM as a dynamic organization poised at the forefront of contemporary culture.
