The Association gugging friends was founded in 1990. The work of this association is not for profit. The most important goals of the gugging friends are supporting and fostering the work of artists whose artworks are seen as Art Brut. Beyond this, the association also seeks to strengthen the position of Art Brut artists throughout the context of the art world and is pursuing a comprehensive recognition of their achievements. The general recognition of Art Brut in contemporary society should also lead to a tangible improvement in the artists’ quality of life. 

Operating the comprehensively assisted group home house of artists as well as the atelier gugging represent key aspects of the association’s work. Another area is the department for external presentations, whose task is to exhibit works by the Artists from Gugging in Austria and internationally and also to produce scholarly work and organize cultural events. The association is also striving to initiate an institute for Art Brut in the context of a university. At the same time, the synergy between all of the institutions at the Art Brut Center Gugging – the gugging friends, house of artists , atelier gugging and the gugging project, with the galerie gugging and museum gugging – is without parallel anywhere in the world, and it offers a place to come together and engage in dialogue.