Art lovers in Soest, Germany, can now bring high-quality artwork into their homes and offices for just six euros through the city's unique Artothek lending library. The innovative program allows residents to rent original artworks for three months at a time, with more than 600 pieces available for selection. The service includes full insurance coverage and can be extended up to two additional three-month periods.
Michael Stockhausen, director of the Wilhelm Morgner Museum, describes the Soest Artothek as a "gateway drug to art." He believes that art should not be a luxury reserved for the wealthy, and the lending library makes it possible for everyone to engage with quality artwork affordably. According to Stockhausen, who is constantly surrounded by art in his professional role, the charm of borrowing rather than owning art lies in the fresh inspiration that comes with regularly changing pieces.
The concept allows people to experience art in their daily domestic settings, such as viewing a painting over breakfast or having artwork enhance their workspace. "The Artothek enables everyone to engage with good art at an affordable price," Stockhausen explains. "It allows art to be seen in home settings and to have an impact in everyday life." This approach aligns with his natural mission to bring art into broader society.
The growth of art lending libraries is evident throughout North Rhine-Westphalia, where the regional Artothek association recently held a meeting at the museum. The association includes 22 member institutions, and the number continues to grow, according to Inga Schubert-Hartmann from the District Art Association. Most recently, a specialized "secret Artothek" was established in Münster, exclusively serving state institutions and government agencies.
The Soest Artothek operates from the Wilhelm Morgner Museum and is open Wednesdays from 3 to 5 PM and Saturdays from 11 AM to 1 PM. The program is supported by both the City of Soest and the District Art Association. The collection consists of approximately 630 artworks, primarily graphics from 1945 onward, acquired through donations, purchases, and permanent loans. Individual borrowers pay five euros plus one euro for insurance, while businesses are charged ten euros. Schools and kindergartens can borrow artwork free of charge, and all borrowing requires a free membership card.
Like many modern Artotheks, Soest's program has moved from library to museum management. Originally founded on December 1, 1983, the Artothek relocated from the city library to the museum in 2007. The facility now lends approximately 300 artworks annually, primarily to private individuals, though there is growing interest from businesses. Schubert-Hartmann actively promotes expanded use beyond private homes, encouraging law firms, medical practices, office communities, hospices, and schools to take advantage of the service, where art can make particularly valuable contributions to the environment.
Eight volunteers, led by Christa Müller and operating under the District Art Association, manage the collection of nearly 640 artworks. The collection has grown significantly from its original 400 pieces, with all works professionally framed and systematically organized in specialized storage units. The inventory includes works by both deceased and contemporary artists, all of whom have some connection to Soest. Many pieces were created through the Kätelhön print workshops, which served as a central hub for local artistic production.
The available artwork spans various media, including print graphics, lithographs, etchings, woodcuts, hand drawings, watercolors, and mixed-media pieces. Notable artists represented in the collection include Horst Antes, Willibrord Haas, Annegret Soltau, and local Soest artists Fritz Risken and Richard A. Cox. Most additions to the collection come from donations resulting from inheritances or estate clearances, along with loans and strategic purchases. All works undergo authentication verification before being added to the lending inventory.
The team recently celebrated a particularly exciting acquisition: a replica of Wilhelm Morgner's "Animal Trainer," a 1912 woodcut donated by the museum's support association. This piece holds special significance as it represents the work of the museum's namesake artist. Additionally, the museum is offering limited-edition art prints of this motif in a 60 x 80 centimeter format for purchase.
The lending library operates under strict guidelines that prohibit gifting or selling borrowed artworks. Revenue generated from rental fees is reinvested into acquiring new pieces for the collection. The program continues to seek additional volunteers to help manage operations. Those interested in volunteering can contact Christa Müller at 02921/1031138 or via email at info@artothek-soest.de, with more information available at www.artothek-soest.de.
