Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation , headquartered in Berlin
, Germany
, is one of the largest cultural institutions in the world. It was founded by a West German
federal law passed on 25 July 1957, with the mission to acquire and protect the cultural legacy of the former state of Prussia
. Its purview now includes seventeen museums, the Berlin State Library
, the Privy State Archives, and several other collections and archives.
Since German Reunification
it administers many of its most important properties with former East German cultural foundations. The foundation is funded in three parts by the German federal government and in one by all German states.
The foundation awards the annual Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Prize
to the winner of a competition between the best musical students of Germany's musical conservatories. Each year a different instrument is chosen.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, is one of the largest cultural institutions in the world. It was founded by a West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
federal law passed on 25 July 1957, with the mission to acquire and protect the cultural legacy of the former state of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. Its purview now includes seventeen museums, the Berlin State Library
Berlin State Library
The Berlin State Library is a library in Berlin, Germany and a property of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.-Buildings:The State Library runs several premises, three of which are open for users, namely House 1 in Unter den Linden 8, House 2 in Potsdamer Straße 33 and the newspaper archive...
, the Privy State Archives, and several other collections and archives.
Since German Reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
it administers many of its most important properties with former East German cultural foundations. The foundation is funded in three parts by the German federal government and in one by all German states.
The foundation awards the annual Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Prize
Mendelssohn Scholarship
The Mendelssohn Scholarship refers to two scholarships awarded in Germany and in the United Kingdom. Both commemorate the composer, Felix Mendelssohn, and are awarded to promising young musicians to enable them to continue their development.-History:...
to the winner of a competition between the best musical students of Germany's musical conservatories. Each year a different instrument is chosen.
Selected institutions administered
- Berlin State MuseumsBerlin State MuseumsThe Berlin State Museums, in German Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, are a group of museums in Berlin, Germany overseen by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and funded by the German federal government in collaboration with Germany's federal states...
- Berlin State LibraryBerlin State LibraryThe Berlin State Library is a library in Berlin, Germany and a property of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.-Buildings:The State Library runs several premises, three of which are open for users, namely House 1 in Unter den Linden 8, House 2 in Potsdamer Straße 33 and the newspaper archive...
- Privy State Archives (Preußisches Geheimes Staatsarchiv)
- Ibero-American Institute (largest institute for South American studies outside South America)
- State Institute for Musicology
- Institute for Museum Research
- Prussian Heritage Image Archive