Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937-2020) was included in the exclusive circle of the 50 most important historical women personalities in Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW), Germany.

With the ‘FrauenOrten NRW’, the FrauenRat NRW - an association of around 50 women's organisations and groups - honours women's personalities who have had a decisive influence on the history of the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, who have achieved great things and made pioneering achievements. Bettina Heinen-Ayech was chosen as an outstanding artist, as the most important protagonist of the Solingen Artists' Colony “Black House” and for her commitment as an ambassador for international understanding between Orient and Occident.

Tim Kurzbach, Lord Mayor of the city of Solingen: ‘This award honours women who have made a special contribution to our federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. I am proud that Bettina Heinen-Ayech's birthplace and place of work - ‘the Black House’ of the Solingen Artists' Colony - is now officially recognized as a Women's Place NRW and posthumously invites visitors to Solingen on a historical journey of discovery. These women can still serve as inspiration for us today. The city of Solingen already honoured Bettina Heinen-Ayech in an outstanding way in 1993 with the Cultural Prize of the Baden Civic Foundation"

"Even if we go different ways - in art, all artists

on this earth are looking for the same thing".

Bettina Heinen-Ayech