ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM MEETS ART PROJECT

On 1 January 1975, a reform of the century comes into force in Münsterland: numerous local authority and district boundaries are shifted. The territorial reform, which was actually an administrative act, left a deep mark on the region's cultural identity. To mark the 50th anniversary, the Kulturbüro Münsterland is inviting five art projects to trace the reorganisation in Münsterland and its effects to this day. The artists will present the results during the decentralised presentation week from 7 to 11 May .

Further information on the territorial reform can be found below.

REVIEW - THAT WAS "SIGN CHANGE"

The Kulturbüro des Münsterland e.V. has invited five projects from different disciplines to address the regional reform from their respective artistic perspectives. The artists are currently in the research phase. They will realise their ideas in spring 2025. There are several dates in which you can participate. The highlight and conclusion of "Schilderwechsel" will be the presentation week from 7 to 11 May, during which the finished results will be presented.

The Münsterland districts before (black) and after (white) the territorial reform
© Münsterland e.V.

THE REFORM

The territorial reform of the 1960s and 1970s represented the largest reorganisation of the administration and territories of towns and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The historically evolved structures and boundaries of the municipalities were to be reconsidered and adapted to the ideas of spatial planning. By creating larger structures, the administrative power of the districts and municipalities was to be strengthened. In this context, the number of municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia was reduced from 2,365 to 396 in several stages by 1975.

"These serious territorial changes are very astonishing, not least in view of the fact that they were not the result of a military conflict, but were achieved democratically."

(Sabine Mecking: Regionale Disparitäten, Raumordnung und das Ideal der Chancengerechtigkeit in Westdeutschland, Berlin/Boston 2017, p. 87. )

The "Act on the Reorganisation of the Municipalities and Districts of the Münster/Hamm Reorganisation Area (Münster/Hamm Act)" of 9 July 1974 ordered the territorial reform in the region around the cities of Münster and Hamm at municipal level. The law came into force on 1 January 1975. The following reorganisations took place in Münsterland:

- Numerous towns were newly formed (from former towns and municipalities, e.g. Nottuln, Dülmen, Steinfurt).
- The old district of Münster becomes the independent city of Münster. It is expanded to include the surrounding municipalities of Albachten, Amelsbüren, Angelmodde, Handorf, Hiltrup, Nienberge, Roxel, Sankt Mauritz and Wolbeck.
- The following districts are formed:
- the district of Warendorf as successor to the districts of Beckum and Warendorf,
- the district of Steinfurt as successor to the districts of Steinfurt and Tecklenburg,
- the district of Coesfeld as successor to the districts of Coesfeld and Lüdinghausen,
- and the district of Borken as successor to the districts of Ahaus and Borken, including the previously independent town of Bocholt

The municipal territorial reform was far more than a mere administrative act. It can certainly be seen as a "creative" and structural policy measure that had a major impact on people's lives and coexistence. The aim was to create optimal spatial and social conditions for the development of society and the economy - from a Prussian-style administrative state to a modern service and welfare state. Whether the territorial reform was a success is as controversial then as it is today.

"The sharp reduction in the number of municipal administrative units in North Rhine-Westphalia has led to a considerable reduction in the number of municipal elected representatives and has thus resulted in a major loss of civic participation instead of the desired proximity to citizens."

(Alois Mayr: Accompanying text to the double sheet: Staatliche und kommunale Verwatlungsgliederung, Münster 1990, p. 20).

Protest leaflet against the separation of Lippborg and Beckum
© KAW S9 1855 Lippborg Beckum 1969
Signing of the contract 13 June 1973
© KAW S 05 Kreis Warendorf, 791
Newspaper report from 11 February 1974 on the Bürgerwille campaign in Ibbenbüren
© Ibbenbürener Volkszeitung
Public hearing of the reorganisation committee led by Heinz Köstering (3rd from right) in Tecklenburg.
© Kreisarchiv Steinfurt, Medienzentrum TE Nr. 91
Vote on the independence of the titular town of Stromberg
© KAW

FURTHER INFORMATION

Our co-operation partners

Burg Hülshoff - Center for Literature (CfL) | Havixbeck (Coesfeld district) | burg-huelshoff.de
DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst | Hörstel (Steinfurt district) | da-kunsthaus.de
FARB, Forum Altes Rathaus Borken | Borken (Borken district) | farb.borken-nrw.de
Filmwerkstatt Münster | Kreisfreie Stadt Münster | filmwerkstatt-muenster.de
Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck | Oelde-Stromberg (Kreis Warendorf) | kulturgut-nottbeck.de
Theater im Pumpenhaus | Kreisfreie Stadt Münster | pumpenhaus.de

"Schilderwechsel" was funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science NRW (funding programme RKP - Regionales Kultur Programm NRW), Volksbank Westmünsterland eG, Werte-Stiftung-Münsterland and Stiftung Kunst & Kultur Münsterland. The project was also funded by the LWL Cultural Foundation as part of the cultural programme for the anniversary year 2025 "1250 Years of Westphalia". The patron of this cultural programme is Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Contact person

Laura Säumenicht
© Münsterland e.V./Anja Tiwisina
Laura Säumenicht
Cultural Office
Münsterland Festival" project

Office days: Monday to Thursday

0049 2571 94 93 67

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