Feasibility study commissioned to optimise Berlin's museum landscape
Press release from 09/11/2012
The President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation Hermann Parzinger, the Director General Michael Eissenhauer and the 15 museum directors of the SMB, in particular the collection directors concerned, Udo Kittelmann and Bernd Lindemann, have decided on the further course of action regarding the plans for the collections of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (SMB). Against the background of the controversial debate, the aim is to develop an appropriate exhibition perspective for the Old Masters on the one hand, and to do justice to the Nationalgalerie's collection of 20th century art, including the Pietzsch Collection, on the other.
President Parzinger and the entire SMB Board of Directors agree that the previous plans should be concretised, but at the same time alternatives and variants should be re-examined in order to avoid any appearance of premature decisions.
The Foundation is therefore immediately commissioning a well-founded feasibility study, the results of which will serve as the basis for further decisions. This study has only become possible thanks to the additional funds promised by the Bundestag Budget Committee. The feasibility study will analyse the following options on the basis of many years of planning:
- Completion of an extension building on the Museumshöfe opposite the Bode Museum, followed by the relocation of the Old Masters and the conversion of the Gemäldegalerie, which would then become vacant, into a 20th century gallery.
- Conversion of the Picture Gallery into a 20th century gallery, presentation of the Old Masters in the Bode Museum and construction of an extension in the museum courtyards with a temporary interim solution.
The Foundation continues to consider the idea of relocating the Old Masters to the Museum Island and turning the Picture Gallery into a gallery of the 20th century to be convincing. Notwithstanding this, the feasibility study will include the possibility and realisability of a new building for 20th century art at the Kulturforum without relocating the Old Masters as well as the accommodation of the Pietzsch Collection and parts of the Neue Nationalgalerie collection in existing SPK properties.
The feasibility study will determine the scope, costs and timescales for the realisation of these options, also in the context of the Foundation's existing building programme. The results should be available in spring 2013 and form the basis for a decision by the Board of Trustees and parliamentary committees.