Redesigned piece should evoke memory of Rabbi Wolff - The piece of art is meant to evoke the image of Rabbi Wolff.
The city of Schwerin in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has announced a public artwork competition to create a memorial for the late Landesrabbiner William Wolff (1927–2020). The competition invites artists living in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern or those with prior artistic public work in Schwerin to submit their ideas for this memorial by October 19, 2025.
The memorial aims to honour Wolff’s significant role in rebuilding Jewish communities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern over many years. The winning artwork will be installed at the Schlachtermarkt, near Schwerin's synagogue, and is planned to be unveiled in February 2027, coinciding with what would have been William Wolff’s 100th birthday.
Key details of the competition include the selection process, location, funding, and purpose. Six proposals will be shortlisted and further developed. These refined proposals will be reviewed by a jury in January 2026 to choose a winner. The winning artwork will be realised on the Schlachtermarkt, near the synagogue. Over €50,000 has been raised by donations and sponsorships, with prize money of €4,000 allocated for the top three winners, and the remaining funds dedicated to implementing the winning design.
No specifics about the artwork’s design criteria or thematic guidelines were provided, but the city administration emphasises that the artwork should commemorate Wolff’s lasting legacy and be part of the public space in Schwerin.
William Wolff served as Landesrabbiner in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from 2002 until 2015, and continued on a voluntary basis thereafter. He was an honorary citizen of the state capital Schwerin and was remembered as a persistent bridge builder and inexhaustible optimist. At a memorial service in Schwerin, Mayor Rico Badenschier emphasised that Wolff's words about peace and harmony at the inauguration of the newly built synagogue in 2008 serve as a legacy and a reminder.
Culture Commissioner Silvio Horn is involved in the memorial project. William Wolff died in England in July 2020 at the age of 93.
Submissions for the artwork competition must be made by October 19, 2025. The selected designs will be refined and evaluated by a jury in January 2026. The unveiling of the artwork is scheduled for February 2027, on Landesrabbiner William Wolff's 100th birthday.
- The employment policy for the public artwork competition requires artists residing in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern or those with prior artistic public work in Schwerin to submit their ideas by October 19, 2025.
- The community policy for the memorial of William Wolff emphasizes that the artwork should commemorate his lasting legacy and be an integral part of Schwerin's home-and-garden public space, reflecting his lifelong dedication to peace and harmony.
