Prominent museum director in Germany: Marion Ackermann - museum director Marion Ackermann of Germany's foremost institution will be stepping down from her role soon.
Prominent Museum Director Marion Ackermann to Lead Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
Marion Ackermann, a renowned museum manager and curator, is set to Assume Leadership of Germany's Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) in Berlin, effective June 1st. Her inauguration ceremony will take place on May 27th. The current director, Hermann Parzinger, will be officially succeeded by Ackermann at this time.
Ackermann will also become the top boss of the Museum Island, one of Berlin's main attractions and one of the top museum districts in the world, housing iconic works like the Nefertiti bust and Caspar David Friedrich's famous pieces.
The art historian, born in 1965 in Göttingen, began her career as a curator at the Munich Lenbachhaus before serving as director of the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart from 2003 to 2009. From 2009 to 2016, she served as artistic director of the Art Collection North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. In 2003, at the age of 38, she became the youngest director of a major German museum, a testament to her rapid ascent in the field.
Ackermann's tenure in Dresden was marked by significant achievements, including major exhibitions on Jan Vermeer, Caspar David Friedrich, and radical artists behind the Iron Curtain, as well as a focus on young art from around the world and West and East German subculture. She also established the only children's biennale alongside the original in Singapore.
Her time in Dresden was not without controversy, however. A dramatic green vault robbery cast a dark shadow over her tenure, with precious jewels worth millions in diamonds and brilliants stolen. Ackermann faced public criticism due to the loss and the subsequent security gaps revealed in court. However, the later convicted perpetrators returned most of the stolen jewelry as part of their trial, with some pieces still missing.
Despite this setback, Ackermann has earned recognition and admiration for her diplomatic efforts in Eastern Europe and her commitment to ensuring that art and culture have space, attention, and resources. Her innovative initiatives in digitalization and mediation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, have also left a significant impact.
As the first female president of the SPK, Ackermann will work to position Germany's museums more strongly on the international stage and build close ties in the cultural sector, even in complex systems. With approximately 2,000 employees, the foundation includes the Staatsbibliothek Berlin and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
In her new role, Ackermann approaches people openly, inspiring with her passion for art, and standing for women's empowerment, even in leadership positions. Her experiences in Dresden have honed her crisis management skills, which will likely be crucial in her new position.
[1] Marion Ackermann. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.skd-dresden.de/de/ueber-uns/verwaltung/team/leitung/[2] Museumsinsel Berlin. (2021, February 17). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.museumsinsel-berlin.de/[3] Dresden State Art Collections. (2023, April 8). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.skd-dresden.de/
- In her new role at the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Marion Ackermann plans to implement vocational training programs for employees to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills for health-and-wellness in the workplace, prioritising the well-being of the community.
- As a leader and a champion of women's rights, Marion Ackermann intends to encourage more women to pursue careers in science, business, and leadership within the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, advocating for a balanced and diverse workforce in the institution.
- In alignment with her commitment to digitalization and mediation, Marion Ackermann aims to develop innovative science and technology initiatives at the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, fostering stronger ties between art, technology, and women's health-and-wellness within the foundation's communities.
