HISTORY
August/September 2017
Birth of KIRCHHOFF Culture Life with visit to documenta exhibition and Fanta 4 concert
With the two kick-off events in summer 2017, the foundation was set for KIRCHHOFF Culture Life’s cultural initiative. In August, 20 employees, together with members of the Kirchhoff family, travelled to Kassel for the documenta, the world’s most important exhibition of modern art. One month later, the lucky winners of the VIP tickets celebrated with 9,000 fans at the sold out, spectacular concert of the “Fantastischen Vier” in the Sauerlandpark Hemer, Germany.
January 2018
A successful Blind Date at the first “Culture Attack” afternoon
May 2018
Highlights for the senses of taste and smell are on the menu at "Cooking with Jochen".
The focus is on the shared cooking experience. Together with professional chef Jochen Brandt, the participants prepared a three-course meal with seasonal delicacies.
May 2018
"Culture Attack" Abstract Art - Created together
Participants experienced a whirl of colors, impressions, and emotions during the latest Culture Life initiative. Equipped with brushes, rollers, and cloths, employees worked together to create abstract art on a huge canvas. The many smiling faces at the event speak for themselves.
October/November 2018
The “Culture Attack” afternoon event starts its European tour in Poland and Hungary.
The major event that took place in October at our plant in Gliwice, Poland, and in November for Esztergom, Hungary, inspired hundreds of spectators. The initial program adapted to the country and its people as it traveled – top-class artists performed together with local acts. Any initial scepticism vanished quickly, the audience was on fire within a few minutes. The start of the “Culture Attack” European tour was a complete success, which made the anticipation for the following events grow.
January 2019
Impressive start to the new year with “Culture Attack” & Photo Workshops.
The year started for the staff in Iserlohn, Germany with drums, singing and impressive sounds. “Culture Attack” once again carried the audience away with its performances.
In addition, a photo workshop was launched at the German locations. The campaign, which works alongside employees throughout the year, involves a professional photographer helping to design a photo calendar as a Christmas present for the workforce.
March/April 2019
The First Sporting Events: Relax with Business Yoga and Do Something Good for the Body
April / May 2020
The Starting Signal for Culture Life at KIRCHHOFF Ecotec
The popular “Culture Life” format from KIRCHHOFF Automotive has also been established at KIRCHHOFF Ecotec. However, the culture program started directly with livestreams for German-speaking colleagues from FAUN and ZOELLER, since the musical participatory events could not take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Since November 2020
Already almost 8.000 trees planted
Almost 8,000 trees planted already– and the number continues to grow! Following Iserlohn and Osterholz-Scharmbeck, the third KIRCHHOFF Culture Life tree‑planting campaign took place on November 21, and the fourth on November 28, in Attendorn and Wiesbaden. Originally, these events were planned as employee activities. However, due to the partial COVID‑19 lockdown, the local tree nursery Küch took over the planting of 1,785 forest plants in the Attendorn municipal forest.
The KIRCHHOFF Culture Life “tree‑planting campaign” continues – 1,785 trees are to be planted at all locations of the KIRCHHOFF Group. In cooperation with local tree nurseries and forestry offices, employees and their family members can take part in the campaign. With this initiative, we aim to set a global example for the environment and for the future of our children.
February 2021
It’s Easy to Create Your Own Photo Calendar
In three photography workshops, the employees of KIRCHHOFF Ecotec learned everything they needed to know about selecting motifs and using a camera and cellphone camera. The goal of the workshop is to use their own photos and create a photo calendar for 2022, which will be presented to employees and customers as a gift.
May 2021
A Forest in Memory of Lore Kirchhoff
In memory of Lore Kirchhoff, the mother of Arndt G., Eva, Dr. Johannes F., and J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, Dr. Johannes F. Kirchhoff and our cultural representative Prof. Thomas Kirchhoff have erected a bench and memorial plaque in the Lore Forest. The forest is located in northern Germany near the Ecotec site in Osterholz-Scharmbeck. The memorial plaque was designed by Melissa Kavanagh (daughter of Prof. Thomas Kirchhoff), and Julia and Kristina Hesse (daughters of Eva Kirchhoff).
May 2022
"Culture Attack" Puzzle Artworks That Tell a Story
In our latest initiative, employees create nearly 50 m² large artworks depicting the history of the plant as well as key elements of our technologies and machines. As part of a major surprise afternoon featuring music and art, participants are invited to get actively involved themselves. A total of sixty 80 × 80 cm puzzle pieces can be individually painted. The moment becomes especially emotional when the jointly created artwork—assembled from many puzzle pieces—is unveiled, hanging prominently on a production hall wall. Joy, admiration, and pride are then reflected on the faces of those involved.
September 2025
Creating a symbol with depth – Steel sculptures in front of our plant
The latest KCL project consists of steel tree sculptures over 3.20 meters high. These brightly colored trees not only represent the shareholder brothers Arndt, Johannes, and Wolfgang Kirchhoff, but also our commitment to sustainability: we are planting 1,785 trees at all locations of the KIRCHHOFF Group – a tribute to our founding year, 1785.
Each steel leaf, hand-painted by employees, displays symbols that represent the guiding principles, vision, and values of our company. A hand on a heart symbolizes honesty. A microscope stands for research & development. A musical note and a paintbrush show that culture and art hold great importance for us. In this way, abstract values become tangible reality.
Conclusion: When employees and their families create together, not only impressive artworks emerge, but also unforgettable moments of unity.
A Lot is Planned for the Future
KIRCHHOFF Culture Life is a versatile, lively cultural programme that is constantly evolving.
Prof. Thomas Kirchhoff is therefore already planning many more events for KIRCHHOFF Culture Life – naturally also for those countries with KIRCHHOFF Group locations where no events have taken place yet.