ROME Foundation, Göttingen

The ROME Foundation, based in Göttingen, was established by Dr Ruthild Oswatitsch-Eigen and Professor Dr Manfred Eigen on the basis of the foundation deed dated 15 March 2013. The foundation was recognised by the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport in a letter dated 11 July 2013. The recognition was published in the Lower Saxony Ministerial Gazette on 29 January 2014.

The purpose of the foundation is currently, in general terms, to promote the arts. Specifically, the art objects owned by the foundation are to be made accessible to the public in future by means of exhibitions.

However, in memory of Professor Dr Manfred Eigen and in recognition of his outstanding services to basic scientific research, consideration is currently being given to expanding the purpose of the foundation.

At present, the ROME Foundation is managed by three people: Dr Ruthild Oswatitsch-Eigen, Ms Marlies Baumgarten and Mr Matthias Brede.

In the past, the ROME Foundation has supported a large number of projects in a wide variety of artistic fields. These range from book printing and painting restoration to supporting the Kunstverein Göttingen e.V. art association and galleries.

The ROME Foundation currently has a number of major projects in the pipeline. In addition to archiving the photographic estate of Anja Niedringhaus and supporting the Kurt Gödel Foundation in Potsdam, the implementation of the musical and artistic project ‘Quartet of Hope’ is of particular importance.

The Quartet of Hope project was initiated by Göttingen radiologist Prof. Christoph Engelke and accepted by the ROME Foundation as a charitable project in line with the foundation’s purpose to promote young student musicians with exceptional talent and to accompany seriously ill patients in hospices and palliative care in Göttingen on their final journey.

Internationally renowned American violin maker Brian Lisus was commissioned in 2023 to build a string quartet, two violins, a viola and a cello. The instruments will be made available free of charge to students and graduates of German music academies, thereby supporting the development of their artistic identity. The musicians regularly give private concerts for the aforementioned patients, contributing through their art to restoring the patients’ love and dignity.

Instrument maker Brian Lisus presented the Quartet of Hope to the ROME Foundation on 11 April 2024 in a festive ceremony. Those present were able to witness the maker’s love for his instruments first-hand.

The instrument ensemble performed publicly in 2024 in Ojai – Los Angeles, California, at the Albanikirche Göttingen and the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, and in 2025 at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts.