The Friends of the Saxon Museum of Archaeology in Chemnitz (Smac) have warned of a loss of quality in the museum's work. The background to this is the state government's plans to restructure the state administration for cost reasons. To this end, a series of review commissions are underway. According to reports, there is also talk of merging the State Offices for Archaeology and for the Preservation of Historical Monuments; meanwhile, the Smac could be transferred to a foundation with the Dresden State Art Collections.
In an open letter, the Friends' Association warns that separating the Smac from the State Office would deprive the museum of the basis for its research and educational mission. And the State Office for Archaeology would find it more difficult to communicate its findings to the general public. "Duplicate structures with an increase in staff would be the inevitable consequence." The museum is a showcase for state archaeology. The exhibitions and educational work are based on direct access to the collection, knowledge of current excavations and research as well as the exchange of new findings.
