Dispute over Tucholsky Museum: Mayor blocks conclusion of contract!

Dispute over Tucholsky Museum: Mayor blocks conclusion of contract!

The dispute over the Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum in Rheinsberg continues to escalate. Almost two years after the city administration eliminated the management position, lively resistance has emerged. Almost a thousand citizens have protested against this decision with their signatures, and the pressure on those responsible is growing. According to weak.campact.de Both the German Cultural Council and the press have given the museum a fresh perspective, as the district and state have shown themselves willing to provide financial support.

In May 2024, the Rheinsberg city council (SVV) voted that the district should take over the sponsorship of the museum. Mayor Frank-Rudi Schwochow, who does not want to sign the contract, is facing growing accusations. Ulrike Liedtke from the SPD accused him of not wanting a professionally run museum and of obviously opposing the preservation of the Tucholsky Museum. Other factions, including the CDU and the Left, also suspect that ideological motives are behind his decisions, reports world.de.

Criticism from the city council

The mayor's blocking attitude is becoming increasingly clear. Schwochow has been criticized for failing to provide necessary documents for contract negotiations, which is perceived as a deliberate delay. The SPV has pressed several times for the mayor to create transparency and move forward with the negotiations, but there has been no feedback. There is a demand for the contract to be signed immediately.

The situation is made even more difficult by the high financial burden that the museum represents for the city. Last year the deficit was more than 200,000 euros, despite funding of 65,000 euros from the state and 15,000 euros from the district. Former museum directors like Peter Böthig not only criticize the polarization in the SVV, but also the lack of cooperation in this critical phase.

The cultural responsibility

The Kurt Tucholsky Museum, which was founded in 1991, is the only one of its kind in Germany. Tucholsky created a literary monument to Rheinsberg with his work “Rheinsberg: A Picture Book for Lovers”. This shows how important cultural institutions are for the common good. A look at the political framework shows that underfunded cultural institutions are often the first to suffer in budgetary emergencies. Political actors like that left are therefore calling for culture to be re-anchored as a community task in the Basic Law.

In times when culture is called for as an essential component of a vibrant democracy, it is more important than ever to create good framework conditions for cultural institutions and cultural workers in order to ensure access to culture for everyone. The current situation surrounding the Tucholsky Museum in Rheinsberg gives us a clear insight into the challenges that cultural institutions face. It remains to be seen whether pressure from citizens and politicians can ultimately provide the decisive impetus for a greater sense of responsibility and a positive turnaround.