ADVERTISING
Director of the Mathildenhöhe Institute takes on additional task – Head of Cultural Affairs position is being advertised again
As the press office of the City of Darmstadt announced in a recent press release, Dr. Philipp Gutbrod the city's new cultural affairs officer. The 53-year-old art historian, who has served as director of the Mathildenhöhe Institute , will thus assume a central role in Darmstadt's cultural landscape. He will remain director of the institute and will also serve as site manager of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhöhe .
Mayor Hanno Benz emphasizes the significance of this personnel decision: “With Dr. Gutbrod, we are gaining an outstanding expert on Darmstadt’s diverse cultural scene. His expertise and commitment have been instrumental in the Mathildenhöhe being recognized as a World Heritage Site. I am convinced that he will also provide valuable impetus for the entire cultural landscape of our city in his new role.”
Gutbrod: “Darmstadt’s cultural scene is unique”
Dr. Philipp Gutbrod himself expressed his honor at the new appointment: “I am deeply honored by the appointment and the trust placed in me by Mayor Benz. I greatly value the diversity of culture in Darmstadt – it extends far beyond the Mathildenhöhe.” He particularly emphasized the importance of the independent arts scene, the literary and musical landscape, and the many open studios: “Strengthening these institutions, networking them more closely, and expanding them further – that is what I intend to focus on.”
Gutbrod cites the successful World Heritage application for the Mathildenhöhe , the reopening of the exhibition building after twelve years of renovation, and the creation of a new art depot on Mainzer Straße as important milestones of his work so far: "With the art depot, we have accomplished a huge feat and created the perfect space for 30,000 works of art."
Restructuring at the cultural affairs office – new management is being sought
In parallel with this personnel decision, the city of Darmstadt is planning a restructuring of its cultural affairs office , the position of which will be advertised shortly. Mayor Benz explains: "It makes sense to separate these areas of responsibility: The cultural affairs officer should focus on the substantive development of Darmstadt's cultural landscape, while the new head of the cultural affairs office will handle the administrative tasks."
The cultural affairs office is undergoing conceptual developments: The areas of administration, personnel, finance, and cultural funding are to be consolidated in the future. A key project is the further development of the cultural framework plan , which aims to open up new avenues for collaborative artistic thinking, research, and creation .
“Our goal is to further sharpen the cultural profile of our city. Culture is the foundation on which our society rests. Especially in times of limited financial resources, we must find creative and innovative solutions,” said Benz.
The city is looking for a person with administrative expertise and cultural policy experience to head the cultural affairs office , who will further develop the cultural affairs office as a service unit for the city's cultural institutions and become a reliable contact person for cultural professionals.
The Darmstadt Cultural Office is responsible for, among other things:
- Cultural promotion
- The Academy of Music
- The International Music Institute Darmstadt
- The Jazz Institute
- The Darmstadt Literature House
- The city archives
- The organization of the Ricarda Huch Prize
In addition, the cultural affairs office acts as an interface to the Darmstadt State Theatre and advises cultural institutions and cultural professionals.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/ho Photo: Science City Darmstadt, Marcus_Kaufhold)
