Reform of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation finalised
Press release from 12/01/2025
New SPK Act in force - Foundation Board elects Executive Board - Articles of Association and Rules of Procedure approved
Weimer: SPK becomes future-proof and even more efficient -
Ackermann: New Board of Directors will be responsible for the overall strategic direction in future
The new law for the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation came into force on 1 December 2025. On the same day, the SPK's new Board of Trustees, chaired by Minister of State for Culture Dr Wolfram Weimer, met to elect the Board of Directors and adopt the statutes and rules of procedure, which will further shape the internal processes of Germany's largest cultural institution. This officially concludes the reform of the SPK.
The new Board of Trustees now consists of only nine voting members. The federal states delegate seven members, with the state of Berlin as the foundation's home state being a permanent member. North Rhine-Westphalia is also a permanent member as well as a representative of the states of Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony. The other federal states each send a representative in groups for two years; in the next two years these will be Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Bavaria. Four members of the German Bundestag attend the meetings of the Board of Trustees in an advisory capacity.
For the first time, the Chairman of the new Scientific Advisory Board also took part in the Foundation Board meeting in an advisory capacity. In future, the committee will be made up of international members.
The Board of Trustees elected the new Executive Board, which will lead the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in future. Its members are President Marion Ackermann, the Director of the Neue Nationalgalerie, Klaus Biesenbach, the Director General of the State Library, Achim Bonte, Vice President Gero Dimter, the Director of the Ibero-American Institute , Barbara Göbel, the Director of the Institute for Museum Research, Patricia Rahemipour, and the Director of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History, Matthias Wemhoff. With the exception of the President, Vice President and Director General of the State Library, who have been appointed for the duration of their term of office, all other members of the Board are elected by the Board of Trustees for a period of four years.
Minister of State for Culture and the Media Wolfram Weimer explains: "The new SPK Act makes Germany's largest cultural institution fit for the future and even more efficient. On this basis, the Foundation will be able to put its unique cultural treasures, which are the envy of the whole world, in the spotlight even more effectively in future. In Marion Ackermann, we have an excellent President who knows how to utilise this foundation. At her side are not only the Foundation's dedicated employees, but also the newly elected Board of Directors. I am already looking forward to our continued collaboration."
SPK President Marion Ackermann commented: "This is a historic and happy day for all of us. The reform of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which has given the institutions more autonomy, has been completed. For the first time in the history of the SPK, a collegial body is managing the foundation. As the Board of Directors, we are responsible for the overall strategic direction of the SPK. Our vision is to connect people, times and spaces and thus keep our cultural heritage alive. Together with our employees, we actively shape this in a value-orientated way. Our audience can expect us to boldly break new ground in order to keep art, culture and research alive, accessible and relevant."
Press photo of the Executive Board:
www.preussischer-kulturbesitz.de/newsroom/presse/pressebilder.html