Masthoff Cultural Foundation
The Masthoff Cultural Foundation is an independent, non-profit foundation under civil law. It was founded by the lawyer Horstfried Masthoff in September 2001 out of a special bond with his hometown Haltern am See and out of a feeling of responsibility towards society.
His conviction of the great importance of art and culture for the quality of life in a city was decisive in determining their support as the foundation's purpose. The spectrum of activities encompasses the areas of fine arts and music , literature and books , local heritage and monument protection . The foundation is involved in projects that accentuate the cultural appearance of the city of Haltern am See and intensify the citizens' identification with their city, whereby it is both operational and promoting.
The first project of the foundation of the city in 2003 introduced the 2.40 meter tall bronze sculpture The failed Varus as a permanent loan available, on its behalf by the sculptor and author Wilfried Koch was created. It represents the failed general Varus and is intended to remind of the Roman past of the city, where the Roman camp Aliso , which was also used by Varus, was presumably located. The project was also selected with a view to 2009, when three museums wanted to dedicate themselves to the “ Varus Battle ”.
Of the various activities, the chamber music series MUSIK IM RÖMERmuseum should be highlighted, which has been successfully organized for several years together with the Society for the Promotion of Westphalian Cultural Work and the Westphalian Roman Museum . There are young, highly ambitious musicians who are at the beginning of their professional careers. One of the most recent projects funded by the foundation was the successful exhibition “The Last Hours of Herculaneum ”, which in summer 2005 caused a record number of visitors in the Westphalian Roman Museum. A series of workshops is being planned in which local artists will convey their understanding of art to young people.