Oberhausen

The annual International Oberhausen Short Film Days, founded in 1954, are a highpoint of cultural life in Oberhausen. They are considered the oldest short film festival in the world and famous film-makers such as Wim Wenders, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Werner Herzog have taken part in it. Theatre also enjoys an excellent reputation far beyond the limits of Oberhausen. Friends of the plastic arts can visit the Ludwig Galerie Schloss Oberhausen, an institution of the Peter and Irene Ludwig Foundation, which offers changing exhibitions. Situated on the west side of Oberhausen’s main railway station, the Rheinisches Industriemuseum has a permanent exhibition about 150 years of iron and steel history on the Rhine and Ruhr as well as changing themed exhibitions. On the edge of the "New Centre" is another symbol of the city, the former gasometer of the Gutehoffnung steelworks. It was converted into an event venue as part of the IBA Emscher Park. As a place for cultural events, the gasometer has become important across the country for its changing exhibitions and installations, amongst others by Christo, Bill Viola and Christina Kubisch.