The Bernhard Franke Association looks after the artistic legacy of the painter Bernhard Franke and other artists from the region as well as the history of the “Bitterfeld Way” and the Kulturpalast Bitterfeld. The town of Bitterfeld-Wolfen came into possession of the estate of the painter Bernhard Franke through a donation. The association was founded on this occasion.

Franke was born in Bitterfeld, lived here for several decades and worked as an artist. He died in 2004 and his estate contains over 700 oil paintings, watercolors and drawings. Franke was a co-founder of the “Bitterfeld Way”. From 1952 to 1977, he successfully led the circle for artistic folk art at the VEB Chemiekombinat Bitterfeld. At his suggestion, an art workshop was set up at the combine.