Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV)
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) is a Potsdam-based non-profit association founded in 1990 that delivers extracurricular cultural education through visual arts courses, theatrical production, and international youth art exchanges for participants aged 7 to 70.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersPotsdam, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) does
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) is a registered non-profit cultural association (gemeinnütziger eingetragener Verein) founded in April 1990 in Potsdam, Germany, by artists and art pedagogues in the immediate aftermath of German reunification. The organization's core mission is the provision of extracurricular cultural education for children, youth, and adults. Its primary venue is the KunstWerk, a gallery and creative center located in a former factory building at Hermann-Elflein-Straße 10 in Potsdam's historic city center, where it offers regular art courses in painting, drawing, graphics, ceramics, and life modeling, alongside exhibitions of emerging and established artists.
OKeV operates seven active theater groups producing regular performances, runs an annual Children and Youth Art Days program (dating back to 1993), and conducts international youth art exchange projects with partners in Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, China, Russia, Israel, and Benin. The organization is accredited as a sending and receiving organization for the European Solidarity Corps and receives funding from Erasmus+, the City of Potsdam, the Brandenburg state ministry, and other public sources. Course fees are deliberately tiered (€25-€480 per year) with reduced rates for those with financial need, aligning with the organization's stated accessibility mission.
The team of approximately 15-20 individuals includes management, instructors, theater pedagogues, volunteer coordinators, and press staff. Several current staff are themselves former OKeV participants, illustrating the multi-generational pipeline that is central to the organization's identity. The organization distributes its services through direct registration, the KunstWerk venue, partner cultural venues (T-Werk, Fabrik Potsdam, Waschhaus), and direct partnerships with schools in Potsdam and Brandenburg for theater workshops and project weeks. There is no proprietary technology stack, no digital product, and no AI tooling; the business model is fundamentally community-based cultural education funded through a mix of participant fees, donations, and institutional grants.
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV)
- Legal name
- Offener Kunstverein Potsdam, Land Brandenburg e.V.
- Website
- https://okev.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) is a Potsdam-based non-profit association founded in 1990 that delivers extracurricular cultural education through visual arts courses, theatrical production, and international youth art exchanges for participants aged 7 to 70.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Arts & Cultural Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK)
Keywords
Where Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Potsdam
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Course Participation Fees: Monthly, semi-annual, and annual participation fees for art courses and workshops. Pricing is tiered (reduced, normal, voluntary) to ensure accessibility.
- Space Rental: Rental of the KunstWerk atelier and exhibition space for seminars, meetings, and artistic work. The space accommodates up to 40 people for seminars or 12 at a large table.
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees as per the association's charter, with amounts determined by the general assembly.
- Event Revenue: Ticket sales and donations from theater performances, exhibitions, and other cultural events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly payment - Reduced rate for those with financial need |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly payment - Standard rate |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly payment - Voluntary/solidarity rate |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Semi-annual payment - Reduced rate |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Semi-annual payment - Standard rate |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Semi-annual payment - Voluntary rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual payment - Reduced rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual payment - Standard rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual payment - Voluntary/solidarity rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OKeV operates a community-based cultural education program centered on the KunstWerk venue in Potsdam, delivering recurring visual arts courses (painting, drawing, graphics, ceramics, life modeling), seven active theater groups producing regular performances, and international youth art exchange projects under programs such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The organization serves participants aged 7 to 70 with tiered participation fees, complemented by annual Children and Youth Art Days, rotating exhibitions, and venue rental for seminars and events.
Product overview
Der Offene Kunstverein e.V. (OKeV) is a multi-generational socio-cultural arts association offering a unified portfolio of cultural education programs in Potsdam. The core offering centers on the KunstWerk venue, which serves as both gallery and workshop space. This is complemented by art courses (painting, drawing, graphics), seven theater groups producing regular performances, international youth art exchange projects, and annual Children and Youth Art Days. Additional services include space rental and a newsletter. The organization functions as a platform for cultural pedagogy, with programs spanning ages 7 to 70.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KunstWerk: The gallery and creative center of the association located at Hermann-Elflein-Straße 10, offering exhibition spaces, art courses, and event venues.
- KuZe
Products and services
- KunstWerk Gallery and Creative Center
- Art Courses (Mal- und Zeichenkurse) Regular art courses in painting, drawing, graphics, ceramics, figure drawing, and life modeling for children, teenagers, and adults, led by experienced course instructors with monthly, semi-annual, and annual subscription tiers.
- Theater Groups (seven groups) Seven theater groups operating under the association, including Sisyphos, Pangolin, MadMix, Flutlicht, Wirbelsonne, Theaterfüchse, and others, ranging from children's to youth to intergenerational casts, producing regular performances in Potsdam and beyond.
- International Youth Art Exchange Projects International project work connecting OKeV with countries including Bulgaria, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, China, Russia, Israel, and Benin, including youth exchanges, artistic collaborations, and European Solidarity Corps volunteer placements.
- Children and Youth Art Days (Kinder- und Jugendkunsttage) Annual art project where children and teenagers create artistic works around annual themes, with results exhibited in Potsdam, including editions at Strodehne.
- Exhibitions at KunstWerk Regular rotating exhibitions in the KunstWerk gallery showcasing works by young and established artists, both regional and international, typically changing monthly.
- Space Rental (Vermietung) Rental of the KunstWerk atelier and exhibition space with outdoor terrace, suitable for seminars (up to 40 persons), artistic work (up to 12 at a large table), and conferences (up to 25), located in Potsdam's historic city center.
Companies that use Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV)
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Landeshauptstadt PotsdamcoreInstitutional funding from the City of Potsdam since 2000. Provides annual financial support for the organization's operations and cultural programs.
- Europäisches Solidaritätskorps (European Solidarity Corps)coreOKeV is an accredited sending and receiving organization for the European Solidarity Corps, enabling youth volunteering exchanges across Europe.
- Erasmus+ / Erasmus+ Jugend in AktioncoreEU program supporting youth mobility and international project exchanges. OKeV receives funding for international youth art projects.
- KuZe (Studentisches Kulturzentrum Potsdam)coreLocated in the same building complex at Hermann-Elflein-Str. 10. OKeV shares facilities with the university student cultural center, including theater rehearsal space.
- T-Werk PotsdamcoreKey co-production partner for theater performances. Located at Schiffbauergasse. OKeV theater productions are regularly performed at this venue.
- Fabrik PotsdamcoreCultural center where OKeV theater groups originally rehearsed and continue to perform. Long-standing cooperation since the 1990s.
- Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater (BDAT)minorNational association for amateur theater. OKeV won the Amarena Innovation Award from BDAT in 2015.
- Stiftung Deutsch-Russischer JugendaustauschminorFoundation supporting German-Russian youth exchanges. OKeV has conducted projects with Russian partners.
- Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk (DFJW)minorFrench-German youth exchange foundation supporting bilateral youth cultural programs.
- Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk (DPJW)minorGerman-Polish youth exchange foundation supporting bilateral youth cultural programs.
- Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur BrandenburgcoreState ministry providing funding and support for cultural initiatives in Brandenburg. Supports OKeV projects through various programs.
- Fonds SoziokulturminorFunding program supporting socio-cultural initiatives in Germany. Supported projects like 'Die verschwundene Galerie' through Inter-Aktion program.
- Kunsthaus StrohdehneminorArt center in Havelland where OKeV conducts holiday workshops and children's art days.
- Evangelisches Gymnasium HermannswerderminorSchool partnership for theater workshops and project weeks.
- Schulzentrum am SternminorReformpädagogische Gesamtschule (progressive comprehensive school) partnership for theater education.
- FröbelschuleminorSpecial education school (Förderschwerpunkt emotionale und soziale Entwicklung) partnership for theater projects.
- Schule am GriebnitzseeminorSchool partnership for theater workshops and educational projects.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Junge Bürgerbühne Mannheim: Youth theater at the Nationaltheater Mannheim where OKeV's Daria Malygina previously served as artistic director. Operates youth theater ensembles with similar pedagogical and performance ambitions to OKeV's groups but within a state theater context.
Direct peers
- Fabrik Potsdam: Cultural center in Potsdam where OKeV theater groups have rehearsed and performed since the 1990s. Fabrik is the closest direct peer in terms of socio-cultural programming, hosting visual arts, theater, and community cultural events for the Potsdam region.
- T-Werk Potsdam: Theater venue at Schiffbauergasse in Potsdam where OKeV regularly stages its theater productions. T-Werk is a co-production partner and direct peer in the local Potsdam youth/community theater ecosystem, serving similar audiences with overlapping cultural programming.
- Jugendkunstschule Berlin: Berlin-based youth art school offering visual arts courses for children and youth, structured similarly to OKeV's art courses program. Operates in the broader Berlin-Brandenburg catchment and serves overlapping families, but in a different city.
- Junge Volksbühne Berlin: Youth theater program at Berlin's Volksbühne that operates in the same region and offers comparable young-people theater pedagogy and amateur production opportunities. Comparable as a regional peer in youth/community theater in Berlin-Brandenburg.
- Waschhaus Potsdam: Independent cultural venue in Potsdam that has hosted OKeV events and operates in the same local arts scene, providing concerts, theater, and cultural programming to overlapping Potsdam audiences.
Regional players
- Theater an der Glocksee: Independent youth and amateur theater in Hannover with a comparable model combining children's/youth theater groups, theater pedagogy, and regular public performances. Similar operational model to OKeV's theater department, but in a different region.
Others
- BDAT — Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater: National association for amateur theater in Germany, which awarded OKeV its Amarena Innovationspreis in 2015. BDAT represents the broader amateur theater ecosystem that OKeV's seven theater groups operate within.
- BKJ — Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung: National umbrella association for cultural education of children and youth in Germany. OKeV is connected through the BKJE network and award ecosystem. BKJ serves as the industry-level coordination body for the kind of socio-cultural work OKeV delivers.
- Plattform Kulturelle Bildung Brandenburg: Regional coordination platform for cultural education in Brandenburg, listed as a funder/partner of OKeV. Functions as an enabling ecosystem organization that connects and represents socio-cultural arts providers across the region, including OKeV.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) social profiles
Digital presenceDer Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV)
What does Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) do?
OKeV operates a community-based cultural education program centered on the KunstWerk venue in Potsdam, delivering recurring visual arts courses (painting, drawing, graphics, ceramics, life modeling), seven active theater groups producing regular performances, and international youth art exchange projects under programs such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The organization serves participants aged 7 to 70 with tiered participation fees, complemented by annual Children and Youth Art Days, rotating exhibitions, and venue rental for seminars and events.
Is Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) a public or private company?
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) founded?
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) based?
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) is headquartered in Potsdam, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Course Participation Fees are the primary driver. The others are space Rental, membership Fees and event Revenue.
Who are Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV)'s main competitors?
Junge Bürgerbühne Mannheim is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Fabrik Potsdam, T-Werk Potsdam, Jugendkunstschule Berlin, Junge Volksbühne Berlin and Waschhaus Potsdam. Theater an der Glocksee is listed as a regional player. Others are BDAT — Bund Deutscher Amateurtheater, BKJ — Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung and Plattform Kulturelle Bildung Brandenburg.
Does Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV).
What industry is Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV) in?
Der Offene Kunstverein e. V. (OKeV)'s product category is Community Arts & Cultural Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAB, Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8600.