Petition launched against the controversial facade of the Berlin Humboldt Forum

Cultural workers demand one thing Bundestag petition a different approach to the reconstructed palace facade of the Berlin Humboldt Forum. The petition calls on the Bundestag to “end the one-sided glorification of Prussia by illustrating erased traces of the place’s history,” according to a statement from the initiators. including journalists, historians and architects.

“Architecture (…) formulates a social self-image that continues to refer to Prussia and the German Empire until 1918,” the statement also said. This is fatal in times of increasing right-wing populism and radicalism. The building “erased the traces of the German history of violence in the street space in the 20th century and replaced them with an idealized cover memory of an imperialist monarchy,” wrote the “Castle appropriation” initiative further.

The petition was according to a spokeswoman already created in April and has now been approved. It can be signed until November 7th.

She also calls for comprehensive clarification after donations from controversial sources. The reconstruction of the baroque facade of the exhibition and cultural center was carried out more than 100 million euros from private donations was financed by the private support association Berliner Schloss. This fundraising had repeatedly brought the Humboldt Forum negative headlines.

The Humboldt Forum Foundation responded to the criticism by saying that the previous buildings at several locations were discussed in the building. “Various works of art that were created as a result of the art in architecture competitions also deal with the history of the place in a differentiated way,” says a statement.

Regarding donations from controversial sources, the foundation announced that it revised its donation policy two years ago. The foundation no longer accepts anonymous donations and reserves the right to check in individual cases whether donors are in line with the values ​​set out in the donation guidelines.