History
The history of the association Kunst+Handwerk vom Künstler began in 1988.
At that time the association was founded under the name Kunsthof Heiligenkreuzerhof with the goal of promoting contemporary handicrafts. Even then, one of the objectives of the association was to enable members as well as guest exhibitors to exhibit their works in public.
In 1996, a leaflet of ours invited artists and craftspeople to take part in the association’s markets:
„We, a group of people who enjoy offering self-conceived and self-made objects, would be pleased if you were interested in exhibiting and selling with us in Heiligenkreuzerhof. People are welcome who would like to exhibit works which they have thought up and manufactured themselves, unique artistic pieces which are original and well-made.“
Until 2001, regular weekend markets and the universally popular Advent Market in Heiligenkreuzerhof were regularly organised with great care and effort by the association.
For various reasons the association was no longer able to hold its markets in Heiligenkreuzerhof in 2002, and with the help of the then leader of the council of the 1st district of Vienna, Franz Grundwalt, it was able to move to its current location at Am Hof behind the Marian column.
In 2004 the name of the association was changed from Kunsthof Heiligenkreuzerhof to Kunst+Handwerk vom Künstler.
In 2005, market stalls which had been constructed according to the plans of a member of the association were purchased using the association’s own funds. Since that time the association has been able to hold continuous markets over Easter and during the Christmas period.
During all the years of its existence, the association has been led on a voluntary basis by craftspeople who work in the various branches of handicrafts. Its openness towards creative people and the desire to provide a presence for such people at an exclusive market has remained until today.
