Every two years the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle presents the Federal Competition "Art Students Display Their Works". In 2011 it is the 20th Competition to be held. The exhibition is intended to create opportunities for comparison and to stimulate discussion, whilst providing an interested general public with an insight into work currently being done at art schools in Germany.

The purpose of this competition, which the Federal Ministry for Education and Research holds, is to promote young artists. At the same time, it sets out to display the quality and diversity of education in the fine arts and to draw attention to the importance of artistic activity in society.

48 students of the 24 colleges, represented in the Conference of the Deans and Rectors of Art Colleges, Academies and Universities, are to submit works which will be judged by a three-person jury.