"1250 Jahre Westfalen" in more than 80 locations

The LWL-Kulturstiftung and the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) look back on several hundred events and numerous cultural highlights in the anniversary year “1250 Jahre Westfalen”.

“If we put a pin in the map of Westphalia-Lippe for each event, we can see more than 500 colourful heads in over 80 locations in 2025,” says Dr Georg Lunemann, Director of the LWL and Chairman of the Board of the LWL-Kulturstiftung, illustrating the scope of the program. Even 1250 years after the first mention of Westphalia, people still feel connected to their region. “They are shaping our Westphalia-Lippe of today and tomorrow with great commitment and a wide range of cultural activities,” continued Lunemann.

There are many actors behind the cultural projects: large museums, cultural offices and professional initiatives, but also volunteer-run associations. In around 90 collaborations, they have brought concerts, readings, exhibitions, stage shows and workshops to cities and communities.

With around three million euros, the LWL-Kulturstiftung initiated what is now its third and largest funding priority. The Sparkasse Münsterland Ost Foundation also sponsored the cultural program and supported selected projects in Münster and the Warendorf district.

“From cabaret to international cooking workshops, musical and poetic, self-critical and entertaining – more than 100,000 visitors in Westphalia were interested in our program with cultural and thematic diversity,” says Dr. Barbara Rüschoff-Parzinger, LWL Head of Cultural Affairs and Board Member of the LWL-Kulturstiftung. “Around 70,000 people also took advantage of the digital offers in the anniversary year. This shows how topical questions about history and identity are, and we want to build on this success with further funding priorities in the future.”