Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and Berlin collectors welcome the decision of the Bundestag Budget Committee on the extension to the Neue Nationalgalerie / Parzinger: A brilliant act with a great impact on the future
Press release from 11/13/2014
The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag decided at its review meeting on 13 November 2014 to make 200 million euros available to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation over the coming years for the construction of a new Museum of Modern Art on Potsdamer Strasse. The Pietzsch, Marx and Marzona collections are also to find a new home in the Gallery of the 20th Century by 2020.
The President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Hermann Parzinger, thanked Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters, who is also Chair of the SPK Foundation Council, for her enormous commitment: "The Minister of State has succeeded in a brilliant act with great future impact. She has marvellously succeeded in securing spectacular collections for Berlin. This important decision will not only see the construction of a new building that has been sorely missed for three decades, but also opens up new prospects for the Kulturforum as the 'Museum Island of Modernism'. Minister of State Grütters has given Heiner and Ulla Pietzsch, Erich Marx and Egido Marzona security for their collections, which are also their life's work. The way is now paved for the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation to finally catch up with the great museums of the world in the presentation of 20th century art. I would also like to expressly thank the budget holders of the German Bundestag and the Federal Minister of Finance, who have made such a gift to the art metropolis of Berlin and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation as Germany's largest cultural institution. "
The Berlin collectors also expressed their delight at the Bundestag's decision. Erich Marx: "My collection in a building next to Mies van der Rohe's New National Gallery - this tangible future makes me very happy. I have always chosen Berlin as the location for my collection out of conviction. Now, the museum on Potsdamer Strasse will be a truly permanent home for the Marx Collection."
Egido Marzona added: "My 'teaching collection' belongs in this city! Berlin has amassed important collections in recent years and, with my help, has succeeded in filling empty spaces in the Nationalgalerie with works of Conceptual Art, Minimal Art, Arte Povera and Land Art. This encouraging news is further proof that my collection is in good hands at the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. I will take this into account in my further considerations. "
Ulla and Heiner Pietzsch were delighted to say: "Our most fervent wish has been fulfilled. We have dreamed of it and we were crazy enough to believe in it. Now the politicians have set the right course. But it's not just about us, it's about the Nationalgalerie finally having more space after thirty years. With a new building, the art of the 20th century can really shine in Berlin. If my wife and I have contributed to this with the donation of our collection, it fills us with great joy and satisfaction."