Since 2006, I have advised companies, public authorities, politicians and private individuals on matters relating to art, cultural funding and foundations.
I am also the Artistic Director of Coming in! The Outsider Art-Festival Nürtingen 2027
Deniz Araz: Zirkus, 2024 – Winner of the art prize “So gesehen”.
Chairing the forum on digitality at the Cultural Policy Dialogue Baden-Württemberg. Photo: ZKM.
What he can Do
Areas of Expertise
Art and exhibition consulting for companies and private clients
Cultural policy advice and art concepts for municipalities and public institutions
Establishment and advisory services for art and cultural foundations
Consulting on public art and Kunst am Bau projects
Concept development and coordination of art competitions, awards and calls
Advisory services for private collections and artistic estates
Funding advice for grant makers and applicants
Opening of the exhibition at Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen. Photo: Andreas Ebinger.
What drives him?
Culture begins where indifference ends.
A free society is unimaginable without art and culture. Art is not only aesthetic – it is a social force. It connects people and moves them across boundaries.
Supporting and engaging with art is therefore not merely a matter of appreciation; it is about the kind of world we want to live in.
Childhood in a boys’ choir. Studies in philosophy at the Jesuit University of Philosophy in Munich and art history at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich. PhD in cultural management on the impossibility of museums. Professional experience in galleries specialising in classical modernism and contemporary art.
Professional positions included the Baden-Württemberg Art Foundation and the Linden Museum Stuttgart. Since 2006 working as an art and foundation advisor, with further training as a foundation manager at the German Foundation Academy. Development of the Karin Abt-Straubinger Art Foundation for Art and Culture. Art and collection consulting for institutions including Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen, the City of Nürtingen, the State Capital Stuttgart, art associations, collectors, and artists.
Alongside this work, teaching engagements at institutions such as the Institute for Cultural Management in Ludwigsburg and Zeppelin University, as well as an interim professorship in cultural management at SRH University. Administrative experience includes serving as advisor at the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg and as advisor for visual arts and public art at the Cultural Office of the State Capital Stuttgart. Engagement with key cultural policy topics such as digital transformation in the cultural sector, artists’ fees, and art in public space. Coordination of major public art commissions, including projects with Tobias Rehberger. In 2024, artistic director of Coming in!, the festival for Outsider Art in Nürtingen.
In addition to advising companies and private collectors on art, a particular focus lies on multidimensional consulting at the intersection of art, politics and public administration. A further passion is the advocacy and promotion of Outsider Art and other artistic practices beyond the established art world.
With Peter Weibel at the Forum on Digitality at ZKM. Photo: ZKM.
What clients and partners say
TESTIMMONIALS
“I have always worked very successfully with Tobias Wall. He has a rare ability to convey the artistic essence of a project without losing it in the face of practical constraints. That is crucial—because more often than not, it tends to be the other way around …”
Tobias Rehberger Artist
Site visit with Tobias and Chris Rehberger. Photo: Double Standards
“I first encountered Tobias Wall as the organizer of the Outsider Art festival Coming In!. I was impressed by his precise and tireless planning, his exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas to a wide range of personalities, his confident sense for exhibition design, and his thoughtful and eloquent opening speech.”
Dr. Thomas Röske Director, Prinzhorn Collection, Heidelberg on the project Coming In! – The Festival for Outsider Art in Nürtingen
Opening of Coming In! – The Festival for Outsider Art. Photo: City of Nürtingen.
“For many years, Dr. Wall has worked with our institution as curator and collection advisor. Through his exhibition concepts and his ability to communicate art in an intelligent and engaging way, he has played a key role in establishing art as one of the hallmarks of our Kreissparkasse.”
Burkhard Wittmacher Chairman of the Board of Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen
With Burkhard Wittmacher, Chairman of the Board, Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen. Photo: Ebinger.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Wall advising the District of Esslingen on matters of art. For our new building he developed a compelling and high-quality art concept. He has a remarkable ability to navigate the complex interplay between art, administration and architecture. Working with Dr. Wall is not only highly productive, but also a great pleasure.”
Christian Greber Head of the Department for Arts and Culture, District of Esslingen
Meeting with artists for a public art (Kunst am Bau) project. Photo: District of Esslingen.
“Working as curator on behalf of Kreissparkasse Ostalb and in close cooperation with the City of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Tobias Wall led the design process for a memorial to the former synagogue with outstanding professional expertise and personal commitment. From initiating the nationwide design competition to realizing the winning proposal, his experience and exceptional communication skills were key to the success of both the process and the final outcome in this particularly sensitive context. His keen awareness of the many public interests involved made him especially well suited to this delicate task.”
Julius H. Mihm Mayor for Construction and Urban Development, City of Schwäbisch Gmünd
Memorial to the former synagogue in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Photo: Kreissparkasse Schwäbisch Gmünd.
“For me, Tobias Wall is a bridge-builder between art and its audience: approachable, unpretentious, authentic, extremely likeable and empathetic – and above all highly competent when it comes to art. In short: Tobias Wall really knows art.”
Claudia Buss-Ruisinger Attorney, Collector and Patron of the Arts
Engaging audiences with art. Photo: Ebinger.
“Whenever I develop an ambitious artistic project that is also challenging to finance, Tobias is one of the first people I consult. His critical insight, strategic advice and ideas for funding opportunities often lay the groundwork for turning my projects into reality. With his extensive experience in arts and cultural funding and his work with several foundations, he is an indispensable advisor.”
Daniel Beerstecher Performance artist
Photo: Daniel Beerstecher
“As a member of the Art Advisory Board, Dr. Tobias Wall has advised the Cultural Office of the City of Nürtingen on its exhibition programme for many years. His ideas and strong connections within the art world have had a lasting impact on our exhibitions. His curatorial concepts and openings resonate not only with the administration but especially with the public. The widely acclaimed Outsider Art festival Coming In! in 2024 originated from his idea and, under his artistic direction, became one of Nürtingen’s cultural highlights. Working with Dr. Tobias Wall is not only highly successful, but always a great pleasure.”
Susanne Ackermann Director of Cultural Affairs, City of Nürtingen
Stefan Häfner, Merry Companions. Photo: Kreative Werkstatt, Stetten.
“We’re getting incredible praise from ‘experts’ – gallerists, art professors, artists, collectors, art teachers, journalists (‘the exhibition is fantastic!’). It’s really quite something: everyone’s enthusiastic and keeps saying they’ve never seen such a good event and exhibition before. And it doesn’t feel like empty flattery – it’s said with real conviction and clear criteria. Everything was planned right down to the point: Tobias’s relaxed, effortless yet precise and perfectly timed presentation, and last but not least the excellent exhibition display with those spot-on initial decisions by Tobias and you. Wow – a huge, huge thank you for all of that.”
Wolfgang Thiel Ausstellungskonzeption, -beratung und -eröffnung, 2025
Exhibition concept, curatorial consulting and exhibition opening, 2025
Kontakt
Dr. Tobias Wall Kunst- und Stiftungsberatung Paulusstraße 2 – 70197 Stuttgart 0163 -7440308
