The history and concept of the Steel Workshops
The unique Steel Workshop classes, introduced ten years ago, owe their existence to the vision of art teacher, art mediator and artist Karl Heinz Schönswetter. Still, the Workshop could never have become a reality without the generous support of Energie AG. So far the co-operation has been most successful – so successful, in fact, that the Stahlpark peoject was awarded the Maecenas Prize as the best and most innovative Austrian art sponsoring project in 1991.

The foundation for this co-operation was laid in 1988 with the establishment of the "Kunst im Kraftwerk" ("Art at the Power Station") gallery at the former OKA Riedersbach. Since then, many large personal exhibitions have been held at the gallery, which is open to employees of the power station as well as the general public. That same year (1988) was dedicated to Karl Heinz Schönswetter's proposition that it might be easier for the non-artist to develop an understanding and general appreciation of art by observing the artists at work or, even better, by being actively involved in the creative process as such. Children, artists and members of the staff at the power station were invited to create their own individual design for a chair, using metal as the basic material. In 1989, the first Plaster Workshop was held at the plaster warehouse on the premises of Energie AG, with ninety students from three Austrian art colleges participating in the event. Unfortunately, all of the works created then are now destroyed due to the low durability of the plaster. A year later, the idea to use steel instead of plaster was born.

The Steel Workshops, which are attended by internationally acclaimed artists and amateur art enthusiasts alike, have been held every summer since 1990. Even after ten years, the workshops are still influenced by the original ideas and pedagogic convictions of Karl Heinz Schönswetter. True to his principles, the workshops are still maintained not only as a venue of artistic activity, but also as a place of exceptional, creative adult education and cultural communication. Each summer at the conclusion of the Steel Workshop, several large-scale events are held in co-operation with Energie AG to present the newly created steel sculptures to the public. Afterwards, the sculptures are transferred to the location best suited for their permanent display on the Stahlpark premises. In 1995 Stahlpark Riedersbach with its over one hundred works was officially named "Museum for Contemporary Metal Sculpture" – the only one of its kind in Europe.

For more information link to Events:
"Der Besucher" ("The Visitor") 1997
"H2O" 1998
"Die Welle"("The Wave") 1999

To view a selection of works, link to "Gallery"
"Stahlpark Tour"