Prussian Foundation and Humboldt Forum see a shared future

Sharing the Future: Humboldt Forum and Prussian Foundation in Harmony

Less than a stone's throw away from each other in Berlin, Germany's two cultural powerhouses, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) and the Humboldt Forum, are poised for a united future. As a result of SPK's ongoing reform to establish autonomous museums and institutes, the Humboldt Forum (affiliated with the Humboldt Forum Foundation, SPK, and Humboldt University) could eventually become an integral part of the newly structured SPK.

Beyond the State Library and several institutes, the SPK (funded by both federal and state governments with approximately 2000 employees) boasts the State Museums in Berlin, with 15 collections and a whopping 4.7 million objects housed across 19 locations. The Humboldt Forum, spread over 40,000 square meters, is a shared space favored by SPK (with its museums, the Berlin government, and the Humboldt Forum Foundation). Its exhibits range from artifacts from Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania to Berlin's rich history.

Hermann Parzinger, the SPK President, emphasized the significance of transforming the SPK into a network of autonomous institutions, suggesting that another institution could join the fray, citing the integral role of SPK's collections in the Humboldt Forum's inception. Parzinger pointed out the challenge of the existing infrastructure, i.e., the Humboldt Forum General Director holding no responsibility for the SPK collections, which now belong to the Foundation.

Hartmut Dorgerloh, the General Director of the Humboldt Forum, perceives this as a period of innovation, with both entities solidifying their positions according to their respective purposes. The Humboldt Forum aims to establish itself as a hub for democratic, cosmopolitan debate while maintaining cooperative ties with a reformed SPK. From its perspective, the collaboration with the SPK may also mean improved financial and operational resources.

The Humboldt Forum's close collaboration with existing SPK institutions, including the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art, is already bearing fruit. This merger has helped streamline their internal processes and impress international partners as a cohesive entity. Coincidentally, logistics masters like Claudia Roth, Minister of State for Culture, envision a more closely knit relationship between the Humboldt Forum and the SPK in the future.

In conclusion, the imminent integration of the Humboldt Forum into the reformed Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) will create a harmonious relationship between two significant cultural institutions in Berlin.

Further Reading

• The Humboldt Forum, bridging the gap between cultural world heritage, advanced international research, and urban and architectural history, hosts a collective of museums, libraries, research institutes, and archives.
• Hermann Parzinger, the SPK President, eyes a future where an independent Humboldt Forum becomes part of the newly formed autonomous SPK institutions.
• Complexities arise as the General Director of the Humboldt Forum has no control over SPK's collections, which originally belonged to the Foundation.
• A symbiotic relationship between the SPK and the Humboldt Forum allows for the development of holistic programming and the fostering of collaborative interactions with global partners.
• Hartmut Dorgerloh, the General Director of the Humboldt Forum, advocates for the enhancement of the SPK's financial and staffing resources for a fruitful collaboration.
• Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth envisions a joined future between the Humboldt Forum and the SPK, advocating for the inclusion of the Humboldt Forum in the SPK structural debate.

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Enrichment Data:

1. Humboldt Forum: The Humboldt Forum shares ownership and management between the Humboldt Forum Foundation (Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss) and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz).
2. Program Design: The Humboldt Forum's efforts to engage local communities and international partners plan to create an inclusive atmosphere for the celebration of artistic and cultural aspects worldwide.
3. Heritage in Focus: The Heritage in Focus series is a joint collaboration between Goethe-Institut Athen and the Humboldt Forum, exploring various aspects of heritage, including its intangible nature and the relationship between heritage and nature.
4. Future Events: Upcoming events in the Humboldt Forum focus on themes like non-human agency, Earth rights, and restitution, tackling modern cultural issues while continuing to preserve and honor the past.