VARIOUS OTHERS

What VARIOUS OTHERS does

VARIOUS OTHERS is a Munich-based non-profit contemporary art initiative organized by VFAMK e.V. (Verein zur Förderung der Außenwahrnehmung Münchens als Kunststandort), a registered German association (eingetragener Verein, registration VR 207542). Founded in 2018, it operates an annual ten-day contemporary art festival held each May in Munich, uniting 40+ member venues including commercial galleries, artist-run spaces, and major institutions such as Haus der Kunst, Museum Brandhorst, Lenbachhaus, Kunsthalle München, Pinakothek der Moderne, and Kunstverein München. The festival serves as a unified platform that consolidates Munich's fragmented contemporary art scene under a single branded event, supplemented by international cooperative projects that connect Munich venues with partner galleries and institutions in London, New York, Bolzano, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig, Cologne, Vienna, and Shanghai.

The organization's core offering is the festival itself — a curated, time-bound event rather than a continuous product. Supporting infrastructure includes a Mailchimp-powered newsletter, an editorial "stories" section on the website, active Instagram and Facebook accounts, and a Filter Munich online calendar partnership for event distribution. There is no proprietary technology platform, no software product, no SaaS offering, no APIs, and no AI/ML components. The website archives show continuous operation from 2018 through a scheduled 2027 edition, indicating institutional durability.

Revenue is generated through a non-commercial mix of public funding (Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, City of Munich Department of Arts and Culture, Neustart Kultur), corporate sponsorships (BMW, Diptyque), auction house partnerships (Karl & Faber, Grisebach), hotel partnerships (Rosewood, Cortiina, The Charles Hotel/Rocco Forte), media partnerships (Monopol Magazine, Weltkunst, AD Magazine, Mousse Magazine), and association membership. The organization operates with a lean team of approximately five core staff supplemented by a seven-member volunteer board (Vorstand) — Michael Buhrs, Tim Geissler, Max Göelitz, Verena Hein, Andrea Lissoni, Heinrich von Portatius, and Johanna Singer — drawn from Munich's leading art institutions. Customer segments include the general art-going public, participating member venues, exhibiting artists, and collectors.

Name

VARIOUS OTHERS

Legal name

Verein zur Förderung der Außenwahrnehmung Münchens als Kunststandort e.V. (VFAMK e.V.)

Website

https://variousothers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VARIOUS OTHERS is a Munich-based non-profit contemporary art initiative that runs an annual ten-day festival each May, uniting 40+ local galleries, artist-run spaces, and museums with international partner institutions to promote Munich's contemporary art ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Festival & Cultural Programming

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary art festival
• Art exhibition programming
• Gallery network coordination
• Cultural event management
• Artist exchange programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival and Event Operations: VARIOUS OTHERS is organized by VFAMK e.V., a non-profit association. Revenue appears to come from member fees, public funding, and sponsorship/partnership arrangements rather than direct product/service sales. The organization receives support from government bodies (Bavarian State Ministry, City of Munich) and private partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VARIOUS OTHERS organizes and operates an annual ten-day contemporary art festival in Munich (held each May), bringing together galleries, artist-run spaces, and museums to present collaborative exhibitions, talks, performances, and special events. The initiative, run by the non-profit association VFAMK e.V., coordinates 40+ participating venues and facilitates international artist exchange programs with partner institutions worldwide.

Product overview

VARIOUS OTHERS is a single product offering — an annual contemporary art festival initiative — rather than a platform with multiple distinct products. The core offering is the annual ten-day contemporary art festival held each May in Munich, featuring collaborative exhibitions across galleries, artist-run spaces, and museums. The initiative is complemented by a newsletter subscription service for program updates. The organization's website is powered by Filter Munich, an external online calendar service for contemporary art, rather than a proprietary technology product. There are no SaaS modules, APIs, or additional digital products offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VARIOUS OTHERS Contemporary Art Festival
• VARIOUS OTHERS International Exchange Program

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs (StMWi)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Government funding body providing financial support for the annual contemporary art festival in Munich. One of the primary public funding partners.
• City of Munich Department of Arts and CulturecoreOthers · 1 January 2026Municipal government department providing cultural funding and support for Munich's contemporary art initiatives.
• BMWsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Major corporate sponsor providing financial and marketing support for the annual festival.
• DiptyquesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Luxury fragrance brand partnering with the contemporary art festival.
• Karl & FabersupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Munich-based auction house providing support for the festival.
• GrisebachsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Berlin-based auction house supporting the Munich contemporary art initiative.
• Rosewood HotelssupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Luxury hotel chain providing accommodation partnership for visiting artists and guests.
• Cortiina HotelsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Boutique hotel in Munich's old town partnering as accommodation for festival guests.
• The Charles Hotel (Rocco Forte)supportingOthers · 1 January 2026Luxury hotel partnership for hosting international guests and artists.
• Monopol MagazinesupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Leading German art magazine serving as media partner for festival coverage.
• WeltkunstsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Art publication providing media partnership and editorial coverage.
• Filter MunichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Online calendar platform for contemporary art in Munich, powering the festival's digital event calendar.
• Neustart KulturcoreOthers · 1 January 2026German cultural recovery funding program providing support for post-pandemic cultural activities.
• Beisheim FoundationsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Private foundation providing financial support for cultural initiatives.
• AD MagazinesupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Architecture and design magazine serving as media partner.
• Mousse MagazinesupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Contemporary art magazine providing international media coverage.
• François Ghebaly GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Los Angeles-based gallery hosting international group exhibition 'inventing the past' in collaboration with max goelitz as part of VARIOUS OTHERS 2021.
• International Partner VenuescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Annual cooperative projects between Munich venues and international partner galleries and institutions worldwide, including venues in London, New York, Bolzano, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig, Cologne, Vienna, and Shanghai.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/variousothersmunich
• Instagraminstagram.com/variousothersmunich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/variousothers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VARIOUS OTHERS