The Symposium

When it premiered in 1988, the Obernkirchen Sculpture Symposium may have been an insider tip – today it is firmly established on the international arts calendar. Every three years, the historic church square turns into a bustling open-air studio where sculptors from around the globe create monumental works before the eyes of the public. Already at the 8th symposium (2009), more than 30,000 visitors came to watch the artists at work.

The International Obernkirchen Sculpture Symposium presents artists who are approachable and create works that are meant to be touched: tactile interaction is expressly encouraged. Our participating artists include figurative and abstract creators, conceptual minds and spontaneous carvers, craftsmen and innovators, masters and self-taught talents from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In open dialogue with the artists, every step—from splitting the multi-ton raw block to detailing fine surface textures—becomes directly tangible.

The Famous Obernkirchen Sandstone

Quarried from the historic sandstone quarries on the Bückeberg ridge, this fine-grained, light-colored material provides an exceptional carving stone provided to the participants by the symposium. For centuries, Obernkirchen sandstone has shaped architectural masterpieces of global renown—from Cologne Cathedral to the City Hall of Bremen.

Traditional Tools & Craftsmanship

Mallets, iron hammers, point chisels, pitching tools, claw chisels, and rifflers: alongside modern pneumatic machinery, many artists intentionally choose the centuries-old instruments of stone carvers. Visitors can observe every working step from close up—from the initial rough splitting of the massive raw block to the nuanced finishing of surface textures.