The venue is located in the oldest industrial site in Schleswig-Holstein, established in 1827.
The exhibition space, the 'Iron Foundry' (Eisengießerei), ceased production in 1997 before being repurposed for art.
NordArt hosts roughly 200 international artists every year.
The sculpture park features a permanent collection alongside rotating temporary installations.
The ACO Group, a global drainage system manufacturer, finances and operates the facility.
Kunstwerk Carlshütte is a non-profit cultural initiative housed within a historic 19th-century iron foundry in Büdelsdorf, near Rendsburg. The site functions as the primary venue for NordArt, one of Europe's largest annual exhibitions of contemporary art. The complex features 22,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space within the industrial foundry building and an 80,000-square-meter sculpture park. It emphasizes international exchange, showcasing works from global artists that contrast with the raw, industrial architecture of the former Carlshütte ironworks. The foundry was founded in 1827 and represents the first industrial enterprise in Schleswig-Holstein. The venue is specifically designed to host large-scale installations, media art, and photography alongside traditional sculpture and painting. It operates as a private project supported by the ACO Group, which remains headquartered on the premises. The site serves as a recurring cultural hub for international symposia and artist residencies during the exhibition season.
The central nave of the foundry, where massive, rusted iron structures frame contemporary large-scale sculptures.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes as the floors are industrial concrete and the grounds are expansive.
Bring a light jacket, as the vast, unheated foundry halls can feel cooler than the outdoor temperature.
Allow significant time for the outdoor sculpture park, which often requires as much walking as the interior galleries.
Attempting to see everything in less than three hours; the scale of the venue is deceptive.
Open seasonally from summer through autumn; closed annually during the winter and spring months.
Maintain a respectful distance from sculptures; many installations are fragile or incorporate sensitive materials.
