henriettenglück art prize

Call for entries for the 6th Henriettenglück Art Prize 2025

On the occasion of the opening exhibition of the Atelierhaus Recklinghausen in the former Königschule in the König Ludwig district, the art prize 'Henriettenglück' was launched in 2014, which is committed to the history of the Ruhr region.

The title of the art prize refers to the original name of the local mine. It was originally called "Henriette's Happiness," in honor of Princess Louise Henriette of Orange, the future wife of the Great Elector of Brandenburg. In gratitude to the King of Bavaria, who had given his consent to the Prussian Emperor William during the founding of the German Empire, the mine was subsequently renamed "King Ludwig." The word "luck" in connection with a mine presumably also conjured up the miners' "Glück Auf" (Good Luck).

Since 2022, the "Henriettenglück" art prize has been supported by the Cultural Foundation of Sparkasse Vest Recklinghausen.

Topic in 2025: In mining, a "cable ride" refers to the transport of people down a shaft in a cage suspended from a cable. "Cable rides" are not only used vertically downwards or upwards, but also as a crossing aid, for example, over a river to another landscape or up from the valley station to the mountain peak, making people's mountain dreams come true all year round. A cable ride down a mine shaft leads into the darkness – at the site of coal mining – but also back into the light again.

Rope travel thus leads to a place of fulfillment, a place of hope, or even a place of longing. The participating artists are expected to explore the various aspects of "rope travel" and can interpret the theme of rope travel through painting, photography, media art, sculpture, object art, or installation.