Literature - Rescue in sight for Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum
The town of Rheinsberg wants to negotiate with the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district to take over the sponsorship of the Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum. Deputy Mayor Norman Geist said in response to an inquiry that the town leadership wanted to support a corresponding motion at the town council meeting (SVV) on December 18. In October, the SVV decided to no longer fill the position of Scientific Director of the museum in this form after the departure of Director Peter Böthig at the end of March 2024 in order to safeguard the budget. Instead, this position was to be merged with the management of the tourist information office.
The museum in its current form is a major cost factor for the town of Rheinsberg, said Geist. Despite funding from the state amounting to 65,000 euros and a further 15,000 euros from the district, the town will have to make up a deficit of around 241,000 euros this year, the deputy mayor calculated.
The district, on the other hand, wants to secure the museum with a scientific director. Britta Avantario, advisor to the district administrator Ralf Reinhardt (SPD), held out the prospect of extending Böthig's contract until a suitable successor is found. The district council decided to offer the town of Rheinsberg the opportunity to take over sponsorship of the museum on April 1.
This is because the museum has developed into a cultural institution recognized throughout Germany since its opening in 1991, District Administrator Reinhardt explained the planned takeover. To date, more than 470 readings have been held there with high-profile authors such as Christa Wolf, Fritz J. Raddatz and Günter de Bruyn. There have also been 165 exhibitions. The museum's collection comprises around 8,000 artifacts by Tucholsky and other authors.
"A takeover by the district would be a salvation," said museum director Böthig, who is due to retire at the end of March. "I would also extend my contract until at least the end of the year." However, the takeover by the district still has a catch: the museum's collection, which Böthig estimates to be worth half a million euros, is the property of the city. One possible solution would be to initially conclude a temporary loan agreement for it, said Böthig.
The German Cultural Council had placed the Tucholsky Museum on the Red List of endangered cultural institutions following the Rheinsberg SVV's decision. The Brandenburg Ministry of Culture would also be relieved if the district were to retain the museum in its current form. "It's clear that the museum in Rheinsberg is a cultural beacon beyond the region," said ministry spokesperson Stephan Breiding. "And with the world's only Tucholsky Museum, Peter Böthig has created a monument to one of the most important publicists of the Weimar Republic." Breiding also emphasized Tucholsky's close relationship with Rheinsberg: "Kurt Tucholsky made Rheinsberg immortal on the literary map with his "Picture Book for Lovers"."
Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum PM German Cultural Council
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- The town of Rheinsberg is aiming to discuss a takeover of the Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum's sponsorship with the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, as the museum is currently a significant financial burden for the municipality.
- The district of Brandenburg, which has already been funding the museum with 65,000 euros annually, is considering extending the contract of current director Peter Böthig to maintain the museum's scientific direction until a suitable replacement is found.
- The Brandenburg Ministry of Culture supports the district's potential takeover of the museum, as it is viewed as a significant cultural institution, with the city of Rheinsberg hosting notable literary events and exhibits since its opening in 1991.
- The German Cultural Council placed the Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum on the Red List of endangered cultural institutions following the Rheinsberg town council's decision to no longer fill the Scientific Director position in its current form.
- Museum Director Peter Böthig advocates for the district's takeover, as he believes it will be a "salvation" for the museum, and he is willing to extend his contract until the end of the year to facilitate the transition.
Source: www.stern.de
