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Federal-State Cooperation
The federal government and all the states jointly fund the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz. Conversely, the Foundation sometimes undertakes tasks on behalf of the federal government. In addition, all of the Foundation’s institutions maintain substantive ties to the states and collaborate with their cultural and educational institutions.
The SPK maintains its multifaceted ties with the federal states in a variety of ways. Objects from the foundation’s collection are regularly loaned to exhibitions organized by cultural institutions in the federal states, sometimes for long-term displays. In addition, the SPK collaborates with the federal states to organize occasional “showcase” exhibitions in Berlin. Events held on special occasions help raise public awareness of this collaboration.
Federal Structure of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
The Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz was established in 1957 as a foundation directly under federal jurisdiction (Historical Background). The Federal Government and all 16 federal states are represented on the Foundation Council, the SPK’s highest decision-making body. Through their joint sponsorship and funding, they affirm the importance of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation’s institutions and collections for Germany as a cultural nation.
Federal Government Responsibilities and Interface Functions
The Federal Government may entrust the implementation of significant cultural tasks to individual institutions. This is primarily done when an institution possesses specialized expertise, qualified personnel, and extensive experience in the relevant field. For example, the Koordinierungsstelle für die Erhaltung des schriftlichen kulturguts is housed within the SPK, as is the administrative office of the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek.
The Institut für Museumsforschung, an institution of the SPK, is a nationwide research and documentation center for diverse aspects of the museum sector. It represents the interests of the Foundation, the federal government, and the states within the European framework. In addition, it handles tasks relevant to all museums in Germany, such as the annual survey of visitor numbers at museums and exhibition venues.
Federal programme
The Federal Programme comprises selected event, visit and communication formats. It was launched in 1999 on the initiative of the then President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Klaus-Dieter Lehmann. While the initial focus was primarily on loans and exhibitions, today the spectrum is much broader. The aim of the programme is to support the institutions of the SPK and the federal states in special cooperation projects for the wider public.
Interested institutions in the federal states can contact the cultural ministries of the federal states and the Foundation's specialist colleagues. The right to propose a joint showcase for the federal states and the SPK lies with the members of the Foundation Council and the heads of the institutions of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The function of a consultant in the Foundation's Presidential Office acts as a central point of contact.