Alanus University wins prestigious federal project with artist collective Brunner/Ritz

With an extraordinary design and broad scholarly and educational expertise, the artist duo Brunner/Ritz – consisting of Johannes Brunner, Professor of Art at Alanus University, and Raimund Ritz – together with Prof. Dr. Ina Scheffler (Alanus University) has won the competition for the new “White Rose” place of learning in Ulm. For its realization, the Federal Agency for Civic Education is providing funding of around 1 million euros, a clear cultural-policy signal underscoring the importance of the project.

At the center is a freely accessible organ sculpture to be erected directly next to St. Martin Luther Church – the authentic site where the Ulm support group of the “White Rose” around siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl prepared around 1,000 copies of the fifth leaflet in 1943. The sculpture, made of around 600 pipe elements and floating leaflets, makes this historic space tangibly experienceable for the first time. Inside, an innovative multimedia installation opens up a focused place for learning, listening, and reflection.

The artistic concept by the Brunner/Ritz team, which has already attracted attention with large-scale sound and spatial interventions, goes far beyond traditional forms of commemoration: organ sounds from the historic Walcker organ, radio-play-like text fragments, smartglass projections, and a digital learning platform interact with one another. Visitors can explore historical sources, access interviews, control projections, or simply let the sound space have its effect on them. School classes also receive in-depth modules as well as a materials kit for project work. The combination of analog experience and digital deepening forms the core of the educational approach.

Alanus University is involved not only conceptually: as part of multi-year project seminars, students develop learning content, mediation tools, and workshops. In addition, the renowned historian Prof. Dr. Kiran Klaus Patel (LMU Munich) is providing scholarly support for the project. He suggests further researching the role of the Ulm circle of friends in a dedicated doctoral thesis – a research project that could emerge directly in the context of the place of learning.

With the “White Rose” place of learning, an impressive educational and commemorative space is being created that brings the question of freedom, courage, and conviction into the present day – and visibly involves Alanus University in a project of national significance. Implementation of the sculpture is planned from 2027.

Image gallery: Visualizations of the “White Rose” place of learning in Ulm (Copyright: Brunner/Ritz)

Contact for press inquiries:
+49 (0)2222 9321-1944
presse@alanus.edu

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