New course for the museum island: Sophie Plagemann takes over management

Von Kl Redaktion

The Berlin Museum company faces a remarkable change of management that comes into force in September. Sophie Plagemann will take over the successor of Paul Spies as the artistic director of the foundation. This decision, which was announced last Thursday by the cultural department of the city of Berlin, represents a significant change in the management of the renowned city museum.

from Mr. Spies to Ms. Plagemann: A new course

Paul Spies, who previously held the key position, officially announced his resignation and plans to leave his office prematurely. This step opened the door for a new leader that the institution continues. Sophie Plagemann, who has been the head of the collection department since September 2020, has already proven in the past that she is able to master both the administrative and creative challenges of the museum. Already in October last year she took over the artistic direction part -time and was able to gain valuable experience.

Cultural state secretary and the importance of choice

Approval by the Senate under the initiative of Cultural State Secretary Joe Chialo (CDU) shows the city's trust in the new possibilities that Ms. Plagemann can offer to the city museum. In a press release, Chialo expressed how important it is to have competent leadership at the head of the institution in a phase of transformation.

The museum island on which the city museum is located is a network of significant artistic and cultural locations. These include the Märkische Museum in Mitte and the innovative “Berlin Global” exhibition in the Humboldt Forum. Under Plagemann's future management, the museum island is expected to continue its renewal and further development, which is important for both visitors and for the art scene of Berlin.

Ms. Plagemann's vision and experience should help to set new standards and to equip the institution for the challenges of the present. She will keep her role as head of the collection department and look outside the box of traditional museum practice to present art in digital and intercultural context.

Sophie Plagemann not only has a comprehensive knowledge of the collections that she leads, but also understands the need to promote innovative approaches in museum work. Your goal could be to make the city museum accessible to a wider audience and to promote new exhibition designs that illuminate the long -term history of Berlin in a modern light.

an exciting view of the future

The upcoming change of management not only stands for a change of person, but for a change in the entire museum landscape of Berlin. Sophie Plagemann's start offers the opportunity to preserve the cultural -preserving function of the city museum and at the same time explore new ways of presentation in order to keep up with the rapidly changing world. Your approaches could, for example, address various audiences, including younger generations that grew up in digitized environments.

This change in the management structure also reflects a trend within the cultural institutions: the customer proximity and adaptation to the needs of a changing society are more important than ever. While the museum island of Berlin maintains its important attractions, a fresh perspective and creative energy could also be incorporated into the exhibitions under Plagemann's management.

background information

The Museum Island Berlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses important museums that concentrate on the art and cultural history of Berlin. The Stadtmuseum Berlin Foundation, which belongs to the Berlin City Museum, plays a central role in the preservation and presentation of these cultural treasures. The decision to change in the management level not only reflects the personal qualifications of Sophie Plagemann, but also the challenges that the cultural institutions are faced with in the face of financial savings and the need to adapt to new social realities.

In recent years, the Berlin city museum has increasingly strived to diversify its offers and to address a wider audience. This includes the revision of existing exhibitions as well as the introduction of new programs and interfaces to digital art and culture. Plagemann, who has extensive experience in curating and in museum work, will make a strategic realignment with it.

statistics and data

After the last survey on visitor satisfaction among the Berlin museums, which was carried out in 2022, over 70 % of those surveyed stated that they regarded the variety of exhibitions offered as one of the main reasons for their visit. The museum community in Berlin has had a significant increase in visitors, especially over the past few years, when cultural offers were severely restricted during pandemic. These figures illustrate the importance of a strong artistic direction, which focuses on the relevant topics and needs of the audience.

In addition, an analysis from 2021 shows that the digital offers of the museums have increased by 45 % since the institutions were forced to temporarily close. This development is considered an important element that should be taken into account in the planning of Sophie Plagemann in order to increase the reach and accessibility of the city museum.