Marion Ackermann takes over as head of the Prussian Foundation

Marion Ackermann has been inaugurated as President of Germany's most powerful cultural institution. As the future head of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), she formulated her first ambitions for the future of the foundation at a ceremony in Berlin. At the same time, several speakers paid tribute to the achievements of her predecessor Hermann Parzinger.

Among the speakers at the inauguration in the Neues Museum on Berlin's Museum Island were Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer, Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Berlin's new Senator for Culture Sarah Wedl-Wilson.

First working day on June 1

Ackermann will take over the leadership of the SPK on June 1 (Sunday) after eight years at the helm of the Dresden State Art Collections. She will thus also become the top boss of the Museum Island.

In addition to the Berlin State Library and several institutes, the foundation, which is funded by the federal government and all the federal states and has around 2,000 employees, also includes the National Museums in Berlin with 15 collections and 4.7 million objects at 19 locations. These include world-famous museums such as the Gemäldegalerie, the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Pergamonmuseum.

Ackermann: Reaching even more people

At her inauguration, the art historian said that it would be more important than ever to examine how to reach even more people. She also wants to further expand the foundation's international network and explain its role in a contemporary way.

With the SPK defining itself as a "learning institution", it is also essential to connect people with one another. She looked back on the moment of her inauguration with joy, but also with "a little bit of melancholy" due to the departure of her predecessor. He had welcomed her with open arms.

Parzinger: Democrats must stand together

Parzinger used his farewell speech to make an appeal. "The freedom of art and culture is an issue that worries me," he said, referring to US President Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. The Democrats must stand together against those who want to destroy the freedom of art and culture.

The archaeologist took over as SPK President in 2008 and is stepping down after 17 years due to his age. During this time, 14 construction projects were completed, he said. Parzinger oversaw the construction of the Humboldt Forum and the renovation of the Pergamon Museum, for example.

Weimer praises Parzinger as a source of inspiration and an important constant

Ackermann's tasks include an extensive reform of the foundation, which is now being finalized and is intended to significantly strengthen its institutions and give them more independence. This should also make the SPK more competitive internationally.

Minister of State for Culture Weimer praised Parzinger as a constant and a driving force behind the institution who had implemented major projects. He described his successor as an expert, a doer and a "clever strategist". Weimer emphasized that he was certain that Ackermann would lead the SPK into a bright future and make it more visible and competitive internationally.

The two-hour ceremony welcomed numerous guests from the world of culture and politics, including former Ministers of State for Culture Monika Grütters, Claudia Roth and Bernd Neumann.