SPK reform commission wants to strengthen personal responsibility
Press release from 03/11/2021
At its meeting yesterday, the Reform Commission of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) discussed the situation at the Berlin State Library (SBB), the Ibero-American Institute (IAI) and the Secret State Archives (GStA) in detail.
The discussions centred on the question of how the autonomy of the institutions can be strengthened and made more efficient in future, whether completely autonomously or within a fundamentally reformed SPK network. The members of the reform commission reaffirmed their goal of supporting the organisations on their way to this goal. The meeting was attended by the Director General of the SBB, Barbara Schneider-Kempf, the Director of the IAI, Barbara Göbel, and the Director of the GStA, Ulrike Höroldt.
Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters: "The direction of travel for the foundation reform is clear: all institutions need significantly more autonomy, especially in personnel and budget matters. Remaining part of a fundamentally reorganised SPK network is definitely an option for many of them. However, this association would have to offer its organisations real added value without compromising their new scope for action. This is the path that all members of the Reform Commission support. The task now is to develop concrete models for this."
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation: "I am certain that the principle of networking is the right one for a new SPK. Especially in the 21st century. The reform should lead to added value for visitors to our institutions. This requires more ideas and inspiration in the overall network. In my view, the SPK knowledge repository could look forward to a bright future: with strong, independently operating institutions and as a network that benefits everyone."