A unified country from many small principalities
The history of Germany’s museum structure
MúzeumCafé 48.
Our series about the development of Europe’s museum networks began with Austria (see MúzeumCafé 45). Now we consider museums in a state born less than 150 years ago, although previously in its territory besides minor principalities there were also monarchies and state formations exerting influence on the course of world history. Germany’s museum structure of today did not easily fit into the administrative parameters of the historically formed country. Moreover, the unification of Germany in 1871 was followed by the break-up of the country after World War II, with reunification taking place only in the 1990s. Given these political-historical circumstances, it is noteworthy that such a multifarious museum life developed. German museums include institutes with the world’s most famous and richest collections, but considering the numbers, it is local history collections which are the most visited. Today German museums present a varied picture within a heterogeneous structure. There are Landesmuseums in individual territories, sometimes functioning as specialist branches, but their significance is minimal compared to the major museums. The nation state appeared too late for it to influence the process and the cultural policy of recent times has not deemed this to be necessary. And it should not be forgotten that a major task was presented by wartime losses, the effects of which spread into the 21st century. Another characteristic of the German museum structure is that museum organisations in individual states, provinces and even cities are more or less independent. Furthermore, alongside the incredible diversity and richness, there is the perceived importance of museums and the role of culture, and the willingness on the part of the government to ensure appropriate financial support.