In 1958, the idea of organising sculpture symposia on the site of the former Roman sandstone quarries in Sankt Margarethen im Burgenland was born. The first symposium took place in 1959. In 1960, the first Polish artist Olgierd Truszyński was invited (he took part in the symposium again in 1964), and a year later Alina Szapocznikow was invited, who realised the sculpture "Flesh I" (see Alina Szapocznikow's archive). (see Alina Szapocznikow Archive ). In 1963, Magdalena Więcek realised the sculpture Stone. In 1969, Adolf Ryszka, who made the sculpture 'Composition' (he took part in the symposium again in 1991). In 1985, one of the symposia of ceramic forms was held, in which Edward Lagowski participated.

The idea of symposia in St. Margarethen in Burgenland originated with Karl Prantl (1923-2010). The starting point for the idea of the symposium was his work Boundary Stone (1956-1958), which he worked on directly in the quarries. The sculpture itself was set up on the border between Austria and Hungary. This work and the way he worked on it inspired Prantl to continue. In 1959, in collaboration with Heinrich Deutsche, he succeeded in inviting eight sculptors to the first symposium. The idea was that the symposia would include artists from 'behind the Iron Curtain'. Although this did not happen in 1959, Olgierd Truszynski took part in the 1960 symposium. Karl Prantel also spoke about how important it is for him to have direct contact with the place from which the stone comes, thus creating a natural connection between sculpture and place. And Sankt Margarethen in Burgenland - one of the oldest quarries in Europe.