With 168.000 inhabitants, Osnabrück is the beating heart of a widespread, densely populated county with 351.000 inhabitants. One the one hand, the region has strongly agricultural character; however, heavy industry (in Georgsmariehütte) as well as manufacturing and the accompanying international labor migration are represented as well. At the same time, the Osnabrück area is home to one of the largest communities of Russian-German late emigrants (Spätaussiedler) in Germany.
Compared to the rest of the nation, the “City of Peace” Osnabrück and the Osnabrück Land demonstrate an above average interest in cultural offerings. The same applies to the percentage of professional cultural institutions. Among these, the Osnabrück Theater, which is jointly financed by city and county, as well as the museum quarter with the Felix-Nussbaum-Haus – the first building realized by Daniel Liebeskind – and the Kulturhistorisches Museum are of significance. A further cultural institution to be named is the Kunsthalle Osnabrück for Contemporary Art, which is under direct authority of the city department for culture. In addition, Osnabrück is host to the internationally renowned European Media Art Festival (EMAF), as well as home to various festivals with an intercultural mission. Notable examples include the Morgenlandfestival (orient festival) or events by the Büro für Friedenskultur (bureau for peace culture), such as the Internationalen Wochen gegen Rassismus (international weeks against racism) and socio-cultural events. Independent artists benefit both from municipal subsidies, as well as from those granted by private foundations. Finally, after the so-called “Summer of Migration” civic activism for refugees (e.g. Exil e.V., Seebrücke and Solidarity City) has made a widespread impact not just locally.