after an entrance examination, dorothee rätsch was accepted and became a member of the association of artists of the gdr (verband bildender künstler der ddr) in 1971. since then, she participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and plein airs. now she is only active regionally in mecklenburg-vorpommern, such as in the statewide campaigns "kunst offen" (artists are open up their studios to visitors) and "offene gärten" (open gardens).