The Erholungshaus: A centre for social and educational events

The Bayer Erholungshaus turns a hundred

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The Bayer Erholungshaus, the main venue for Bayer’s cultural events and for the cultural ensembles, is celebrating its centenary. To mark this occasion, we are holding a special exhibition of historical, interesting, amusing and less well-known facts about the Erholungshaus. The photographs, documents, architectural plans and billboard posters on display will give visitors an insight into the history of the building – from its beginnings as a “centre for social and educational events” within the “Welfare Park” which Carl Duisberg planned for the “Kolonie II” housing estate in 1899 right through to its present use as the venue for Bayer AG’s cultural events. The exhibition would not be complete, of course, without a presentation of the photographs taken by Joseph Klaes of the musicians, actors and dancers who have performed at the Erholungshaus. Klaes, who has been described as a “photographic chronicler of cultural life in Leverkusen”, has worked as a freelance photographer for the Cultural Affairs Department since 1964. The collection of photographs on display is not merely a pictorial record of the various German artistes who have guested with us, but a testimony to Joseph Klaes’ artistry as a photographer.

Opening at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2009
Showing until April 12, 2009