"There ist enough positive future in both people and the world"
(Ernst Bloch)

As an institute of culture and science, the Ernst Bloch Centre is an interface between research and philosophy on the one hand, and the social levels of mediation on the other. With a view to transdisciplinary co-operation between politics, culture, education, economy, and science, it promotes the development of concretely utopian scenarios. The threefold conception comprising

• archive
• exhibition
• forum of the future

opens up a variety of pathways towards the objective to make the results of scientific research accessible to the wide public. The starting point for this conception is the philosophy of hope created by Ernst Bloch. It includes the leitmotifs principle of hope, upright carriage, and concrete utopia which offer themselves as paradigmatic models of thinking.

Above all, the Ernst Bloch Centre is a forum of transdisciplinary discourse and debate. Future is its project.  Philosophy as a "discipline" is challenged to raise the question of the sustainability of society and by doing so "to learn to hope" in Blochian terms.

Research

The Bloch archive with its most valuable assets - the extensive library as well as the scientific estate - is a place of multivarious resources which provide unique possibilities for doing research work.

Main topics of the Bloch Archive:

• Bloch research including reception
• Reading Library with PC Terminals
• The Scientific Estate of Ernst Bloch and the Private Estates of Ernst and Karola Bloch
• Edition of the Bloch Almanach and of other publications
• Lecture Series on scientific and philosophical aspects, respectively (e.g. Bloch in discourse)
• Co-operation with the Philosophical Research Institute of Trier University and other institutes
• Innovation scholarships for scientists and artists, respectively (in preparation)
  

Exhibition

The permanent exhibition informs about Bloch's life and work, and mediates the main topics of the future by means of an innovative presentation based on multi-media technology. At the same time, it serves as topical clip among the various sections of the archive.

Main topics of the exhibition:

• Bloch's Tübingen Study (walkable on a glass sheet)
• Chart informing about Bloch's biography and the history of his time
• Topical Satellites as exhibits on the topics Hope, Upright Carriage, Arts, Alliance with Nature, Home, Working Culture, and Religion
• Bloch Information and Search System (BISS) with three PC terminals
  

Future as Project

The Forum of the Future is a place for the transdisciplinary discourse. The topics to be discussed are selected according to ongoing debates within society. The conceptual framework focusses on the philosophical orientation of the project.

Main topics of the Forum of the Future:

• Granting of the Ernst Bloch Award
• Symposia and Conferences
• Lectures and Talks
• Disputations and Round Table Discussions on relevant topics of immediate interest
• Development of future scenarios
• Cultural events (e.g. music, literature, new media)
• Future workshops and meetings
•   Temporary exhibitions
• Joint ventures with co-operation partners
  

Publications

Ernst-Bloch-Zentrum. Zukunft als Programm
[Ernst Bloch Centre. Future as Project]
Edited by the Ernst Bloch Centre with support by the Foundation of the Ernst Bloch Centre
Edition Braus im Wachter Verlag 2002, 14,90 Euro

Bloch-Almanach
Edited by Karlheinz Weigand
Published annually as of 1981.
Orders to: Talheimer Verlag, 13,50 Euro
(also available by subscription, 8,80 Euro)

Ernst Bloch: Works edition
17 volumes, Suhrkamp Verlag, 123 Euro

Stefan Moses fotografiert Ernst Bloch
[Stefan Moses takes photographs of Ernst Bloch]
Edited by Klaus Kufeld, with contributions by Ernst Bloch, Jan Robert Bloch, Hans Mayer, Peter Ruf, Burghart Schmidt, Gert Ueding, Johannes Willms
Quantum Books 2001, 14,80 Euro

Ernst Bloch: Ins Gelingen verliebt [Being infatuated with success]
Aphorismen und Lebensweisheiten [Aphorisms and Worldly Wisdom]
Selected by Karlheinz Weigand, with an introduction by Klaus Kufeld, with illustrations by F. W. Bernstein
Insel Verlag 2000, 7 Euro

General Information

Opening hours

Permanent exhibition:
Tuesday and Wednesday, 14 - 17 hrs.
Thursday, 14 - 20 hrs.
Admission fee: 2 Euro
Fee with simultaneous successive exhibition: 4 Euro
(Or reduced fees accordingly)
Information: +49 (0)621 - 504 2202/3041

Library:
Monday through Thursday, 8.30 - 12 hrs. and 13.30 - 16 hrs.
Friday 8.30 - 12 hrs.
Information: +49 (0)621 - 504 2592/3041

Persons in charge

Foundation of the Ernst Bloch Centre
Secretary: Dr. Klaus Kufeld

Miscellaneous Information

• Programme:
  Flyer is being published quarterly
• Profile:
  Flyer available for tenants and co-operation partners
• Topical Satellites:
  Flyer
• Bloch Information and Search System (BISS):
  Flyer
• Foundation of the Ernst Bloch Centre:
  Statute

Public Private Partnership

The Ernst Bloch Centre is being funded following the principle of Public Private Partnership.

The City of Ludwigshafen
Responsible body of the institute, funding of the personnel and of the running costs of the administration, granting of the Ernst Bloch award.

Foundation of the Ernst Bloch Centre (SdbR)
The foundation's present endowment is 1,533 million Euro. From the earnings the programme and various projects are being funded. Active members of the foundation are:

• Stadt Ludwigshafen am Rhein
• Sparkasse Vorderpfalz (former Stadtsparkasse Ludwigshafen am Rhein) 
• Stiftung Rheinland-Pfalz für Kultur
• Stiftung der Landesbank Rheinland-Pfalz

Sponsors and Contributors

• Alcoa Foundation, Pittsburgh
• BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen
• Bezirksverband Pfalz
• Deutsche Telekom AG, Saarbrücken/Neustadt a.d.W.
• Klaus Tschira Stiftung, Heidelberg
• Kulturstiftung der Länder, Berlin
• Stadtsparkasse Ludwigshafen am Rhein
• Stiftung der Stadtsparkasse Ludwigshafen
• Stiftung Rheinland-Pfalz für Kultur
• Further sponsors are engaged in individual projects.

Ernst-Bloch-Zentrum
Walzmühlstraße 63, D-67061 Ludwigshafen
Telephone: +49 (0) 621 - 504 2041 and 3041
Telefax: +49 (0) 621 - 504 2450
E-mail: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam-Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können   /  Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam-Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können
Internet: http://www.bloch.de/