Founded in 1959 the Karl-Arnold-Stiftung stands as a testament to the legacy of Karl Arnold. He was the first freely elected Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia. The foundation initially operated as the Karl-Arnold-Educational Center in Bad Godesberg. It served young people and adults for about four decades. In 1979 it changed its name to Karl-Arnold-Stiftung.
The Karl-Arnold-Stiftung’s mission reflects Karl Arnold’s vision. It aims to provide broad access to political education and societal participation. The organization achieves this through diverse educational formats. It seeks to engage a wide public in discussions of political and societal importance. The Karl-Arnold-Stiftung is the sponsor of two educational institutions founded in 2018. These are the Educational Center of the Karl-Arnold-Stiftung and the Karl-Arnold-Institute.
The move of the government seat to Berlin in 1999-2000 presented a challenge. The foundation had to give up its conference center. It relocated to the Adam-Stegerwald-House in Königswinter. Following the closure of this building in 2013 the Karl-Arnold-Stiftung established its current location in Cologne.
Mostly funded by public resources the Karl-Arnold-Stiftung engages in opinion-shaping. This reflects the influence of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to which it is closely aligned. Its work focuses on citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia. The foundation collaborates with the State Center for Political Education NRW. They work together on projects like the Democracy Workshops. It’s also a member of the Network for Political Education for the Bundeswehr. Further it is a recognized educational provider by the Federal Agency for Civic Education and by the further education law of North Rhine-Westphalia. Petra Vogt currently leads the Karl-Arnold-Stiftung. Bernhard Worms served as its long-standing honorary chairman.
The Karl-Arnold-Stiftung’s contribution extends to filmmaking. It commissioned a documentary titled A Border Through the Middle of Germany. This film was created in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for German Unity. The Karl-Arnold-Stiftung continues to play a vital role in shaping political discourse and civic engagement in Germany. Its commitment to education and public participation ensures its continued relevance in Cologne and beyond.