Since 1969, the Gesellschaft der Freunde (Association of Friends) of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. has been an invaluable and reliable supporter of the museum. Through purchases, the Freundeskreis has expanded the collection, andhas assisted with the financing of exhibitions. By covering the greater portion of the building costs, the Freundeskreis has made possible extension structures such as the Klee Halle and the Henkel Galerie, of such enormous importance to the Kunstsammlung. For a half century now, the museum and the Freundeskreis have been “Best Friends.” We celebrate this partnership now by presenting major acquisitions made by the Freundeskreis, including works by Amedeo Modigliani, Max Ernst and Francis Bacon, by Ad Reinhard, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly and Agnes Martin, by Gerhard Richter and Günther Uecker, by Bernd and Hilla Becher, Thomas Struth, and many others.