German Cultural Heritage Committee

The ring with which the German Cultural Heritage Committee honours the prizewinners has been named after Karl Friedrich Schinkel not only because he was the greatest German architect of the 19th century but also because he can be considered the founder of public-sector heritage conservation. Schinkel was one of the fi rst to recognize the state’s obligation to preserve architec-tural heritage as historical source material. On his initiative, after his death a “Conservator of Architectural Monuments” was created in Prussia by a cabinet order on 1 July 1843. Prussia’s example was soon followed by the other German states as well.

The Karl Friedrich Schinkel Ring was designed by Professor Hermann Jünger of Munich. It symbolizes the tasks of heritage conservation: preservation, restora-tion and protection. Professor Jünger selected a rough ruby, split it into three pieces, mounted the pieces on a gold plate and enclosed them with gold bra-ckets. The underside of the gold plate bears the inscription “DEUTSCHER PREIS FÜR DENKMALSCHUTZ” (German Heritage Conservation Prize); the year of the award is engraved inside the band.

The massive Silver Hemisphere by Professor Fritz Koenig of Landshut depicts a wreath of slightly abstract structures on its cut surface: Ecclesiastical and secular buildings are discernible which form a closed circle, representing the comprehensive scope of heritage conservation work. The Hemisphere likewise bears the inscription “DEUTSCHER PREIS FÜR DENKMALSCHUTZ” and the award year.

German Heritage Conservation Prize

Strengthening civic engagement and promoting media coverage in the area of heritage conservation is a prime concern of the German Cultural Heritage Com-mittee. For this reason, in 1977 it endowed the “German Heritage Conservation Prize”. With this prize the Committee seeks to encourage and recognize all those who have exhibited an exemplary commitment to the protection and preser-vation of buildings, ensembles, historic city centres, villages and archaeological sites. In addition, it also recognizes press, radio and television journalists who have drawn attention to the problems of cultural heritage conservation in an ex-emplary manner. As a rule, the German Heritage Conservation Prize is conferred annually and consists of the following awards:– the Karl Friedrich Schinkel Ring,– the Silver Hemisphere,– the Journalism Prize.

The achievements of the prizewinners are acknowledged in award certifi cates. The Karl Friedrich Schinkel Ring and the Silver Hemisphere are primarily inten-ded for individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the conservation of architectural heritage. The Journalism Prize is designed to honour outstanding reporting on the protection and conservation of cultural heritage and encourage efforts to further the cause of heritage conservation in the future as well.

Faltblattreihe F 1Deutsches Nationalkomitee für DenkmalschutzGraurheindorfer Straße 19853117 Bonnwww.dnk.deLayout: punktgenau gmbh, 77815 BühlDruck: Druckpartner Moser GmbH, 53359 Rheinbach

Bildnachweis für Titelseite – oben links: Schlosspark Nordkirchen, Foto: Angelika Brock-mann-Peschel, LWL-AfDW; oben rechts: Tempzin, Kirche und Warmhaus, Foto: Landesamt für Kultur und Denkmalpfl ege, Schwerin; unten links: Treff Hotel Panorama Oberhof, Foto: Werner Streitberger, TLDA; unten rechts: Altstadt Bamberg, Foto: Dieter Komma, BLfD.

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A cultural task of key importance

The protection and conservation of ar-chitectural heritage contributes funda-mentally to the preservation of cultural diversity, promotion of tolerance to-wards other cultures and identifi cation with a common cultural heritage in Eu-rope. It creates a feeling of home and offers an answer to the desire for dis-tinctiveness and a high quality of life. The forum and platform for the fulfi l-ment of this key cultural task in Germa-ny is the German Cultural Heritage Committee.

In the European Architectural Heritage Year 1975, the political sector and civil society reached agreement on the need to preserve and conserve architectural heritage. This gave an unprecedented boost to heritage protection and con-servation: National, state and local governments as well as private heritage owners, citizens’ action groups, patrons and foundations took this commitment to heart and worked to promote herita-ge conservation in a wide variety of ways.

Despite this development conducive to heritage conservation, in which the German Cultural Heritage Committee has played a crucial role since its foun-ding in 1973, new challenges have ari-sen: Deregulation, the withdrawal of the state from planning and building activity, a lack of awareness of building culture and tradition, investment pro-jects devoid of any connection to the regional and cultural landscape as well as depopulation – especially in rural re-gions – are just a few examples of the changed general conditions.

New impetus for heritage conservation in politics, public administration and civil society is urgently needed in order to keep the value of our country’s cul-tural heritage assets alive in the public

at large and safeguard the future of these witnesses to the past.

For this reason, the German Cultural Heritage Committee is continuing its unfl agging efforts to further the integ-ration and preservation of our cultural heritage for the long term and thus support the work of the federal, Land and local governments, the churches, specialist organizations, associations and private initiatives.

Presidium, members, offi ce

Under Germany’s federal system, res-ponsibility for cultural affairs – and hence for heritage conservation – es-sentially falls within the purview of the constituent states (Länder). The German Cultural Heritage Committee serves as an umbrella at federal level for heritage conservation activities at Land level. As a specialist and political body it decisi-vely infl uences heritage conservation policy in Germany and functions as the interface between experts, govern-ments and public administration.

The Federal President, who has consis-tently supported these activities over the years, is the patron of the Committee.

The exemplary cooperation among the federal, Land and local governments within the Committee is refl ected in the composition of the presidium as well. The president of the Committee is al-ways a Land minister in charge of heri-tage conservation who belongs to the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Ger-many (Kultusministerkonferenz – KMK). The vice presidents and the presidium represent the federal government and parliament, the Land governments and the national associations of local au-thorities.

The membership of the Committee in-cludes representatives of the political sector, the business community, the churches, the media and national as-sociations of local authorities as well as representatives of associations and organizations that are involved in he-ritage conservation in the broadest sense.

Since the founding of the Committee in 1973, on the basis of an agreement with the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Af-fairs of the Länder the Committee of-fi ce has been located within the Federal Government, namely, within the offi ce of the Federal Government Commissio-ner for Culture and the Media. It hand-les the day-to-day business of the Com-mittee and is responsible for coordina-tion, organization of events and the Committee’s series of publications.

Objectives and tasks

The German Cultural Heritage Commit-tee is an interdisciplinary forum for to-pical issues pertaining to heritage con-servation. Its primary target groups are opinion leaders and multipliers in government and public administration, the churches, specialist agencies, heri-tage conservation authorities at all le-vels, relevant organizations, umbrella organizations and foundations as well as the media. Of crucial importance for the effi cient and effective fulfi lment of the Committee’s functions is its close partnership with the bodies of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder, the Association of Land Conser-vationists, the Association of Land Ar-chaeologists and the Working Group on Municipal Heritage Conservation of the German Association of Cities as well as private organizations operating nation-

wide. These institutions make their ex-pertise available to the bodies of the Committee.

On the basis of international instru-ments, the Committee utilizes its con-tacts to– promote consideration of heritage

conservation in all areas of life,– discuss issues of nationwide rele-

vance for heritage conservation, – heighten the awareness of govern-

ments and parliaments at federal, Land and local level of their obliga-tions to preserve cultural heritage on the basis of national and interna-tional law,

– improve the general legal frame-work for heritage conservation, also throughout the EU and internatio-nally,

– enlist the Länder and the municipa-lities in efforts to conserve resources and improve the quality of the built environment and the cultural lands-cape,

– point out the responsibility of the public sector for planning and set-ting an example,

– ensure the transfer of information between public administration and specialist organizations,

– follow new developments and bring its infl uence to bear at an early stage to promote heritage conserva-tion,

– compile working aids, and– boost civic engagement.

Working methods and politically effective instruments

The working groups “Public Relations Work”, “Specialist Heritage Conservation Issues”, “Heritage Conservation, Urban Development, Environment” and “Legal and Tax Issues” prepare the operational

work of the German Cultural Heritage Committee. They each meet twice a year. Ad hoc project groups handle additional preparatory work for events and other special projects. They ensure the specia-list, needs-driven and practice-oriented expertise of the Committee.

The annual plenary meeting of the Committee adopts the programme of work for these bodies.

Instruments of the German Cultural He-ritage Committee include recommen-dations, working aids, the infl uencing of political decisions, intensive press work, interdisciplinary national and in-ternational conferences, publications and the awarding of the German Heri-tage Conservation Prize.

Public relations

One major focus of the work of the German Cultural Heritage Committee is public relations on behalf of the preser-vation of the uniquely valuable cultural heritage.

This work above all consists of the fol-lowing:– targeted press activities on topical

heritage conservation issues (e.g. press trips, talks with the press),

– publication of a press and informa-tion service on cultural heritage conservation (Denkmalschutz Infor-mationen),

– the Committee’s series of publica-tions (leafl et series, conference do-cumentation, brochures on selected topics),

– the website www.nationalkomitee.de,

– collaboration in the European Heri-tage Network HEREIN (www.euro-pean-heritage.net).

Initiatives and conferences

As initiator of information-sharing on topical specialized heritage conservation and urban development issues, the Com-mittee has focused particularly on seve-ral subjects and made them the theme of specifi c events and publications.

These include– building in old cities,– craftsmanship and heritage conser-

vation,– heritage conservation in rural areas,– housing estates of the 1920s,– architecture of the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s

and ’60s,– architectural heritage of the former

GDR,– preservation of ecclesiastical herita-

ge,– preservation of historic parks and

gardens,– questions and answers concerning

archaeological heritage conservati-on,

– historic architecture of technology and transport,

– heritage conservation and employ-ment,

– economic impact of heritage con-servation,

– working aids for investors and mu-nicipalities,

– awareness-raising for pupils and students,

– further training for teachers.

The Committee’s central focus is to pre-serve the original structural integrity of historic buildings and their fi xtures and fi ttings as completely as possible. Through events and publications of its own, it has consistently sought to further the exchange of experience re-garding methods, opportunities and li-mits of cultural heritage conservation, including reconstruction issues.

In addition, initiatives of the Committee led to – the founding of the German Centre

for Craft Trades and Heritage Con-servation of the Johannesberg Pro-vost of Fulda in 1980,

– the founding of the German Found-ation for Monument Protection in 1985,

– the Federal Government’s integrated research project on heritage conser-vation (1987–1998).

Infl uence on legislation

A further important fi eld of activity of the German Cultural Heritage Commit-tee is bringing its infl uence to bear to help shape the relevant legal frame-work in Germany. Prime examples in-clude– formulating proposals for heritage

conservation legislation and its enforcement, thereby providing key impetus for the swift enactment of heritage conservation legislation in Germany’s Länder,

– successfully pressing for tax relief for private heritage owners and working to ensure that such relief remains in effect,

– formulating recommendations for heritage protection and conservati-on, which fi gured centrally in the passage of an act mandating consi-deration of heritage conservation interests in federal legislation

– playing a crucial role in ensuring that the amended Building Code gives considerably higher priority to heritage conservation,

– successfully championing and sup-porting the expansion of federal funding programmes, especially after the unifi cation of Germany.

§ 1The German Cultural Heritage Committee is an in-terdisciplinary association for sustainable integrati-on and preservation of cultural heritage. It serves as a platform at federal level for heritage conservation activities at Land level – as a result of the distributi-on of tasks that are essentially shaped by federal activities under constitutional law. As a specialist and political body, it is an interface between experts, governments and public administration. The Federal President is the patron of the committee.

§ 2 Members(1) Members of the German Cultural Heritage Com-mittee shall be representatives of the bodies, organi-sations, institutions and associations as well as the individuals involved in implementing heritage pre-servation and conservation.(2) Permanent representatives may be designated for the members delegated by the bodies, organisations, institutions and associations.(3) Membership shall end by giving the president written notice of the intent to terminate collabora-tion in the Committee or when the member ceases to hold the function he was appointed to. The presi-dent shall offi cially appoint and dismiss members.

§ 3 Bodies(1) The bodies of the Committee shall be: – the plenary, – the presidium. (2) The presidium of the Committee should include– as president: a Land Minister belonging to and

appointed for 3 years by the Standing Confe-rence of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany

– as vice presidents the Federal Government Commissioner for Cul-

ture and the Media and a Land Minister belon-ging to and appointed by the Standing Confe-rence of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany. The president and vice president (re-presentative of the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs) shall alternate between the Länder groups every three years.

– Two members of the German Bundestag, the pre-sident of a national association of local authori-ties, a Land Minister in charge of heritage con-servation who does not belong to the Standing

Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder. The presidium may appoint an executive committee to prepare and support its work.

§ 4 Tasks of the bodies(1) The plenary shall meet at least once a year. It shall take decisions on the guidelines for the Committee’s work, in particular the programme of work and the budget, by a simple majority vote. Decisions on the admission of new members shall require a three-fourths majority of the members present. (2) The presidium shall manage the work of the Committee. The president shall represent the Com-mittee. (3) The presidium may delegate the handling of day-to-day business to the offi ce. To this extent the of-fi ce shall represent the Committee vis-à-vis third parties.

§ 5 Offi ceThe offi ce of the Committee shall be maintained at the offi ce of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media; the offi ce of the presi-dent shall be maintained at his/her headquarters.

§ 6 Working groupsThe presidium may establish and dissolve working groups. The president shall offi cially appoint and dismiss the members of these groups.

§ 7 ExpertsExperts may be invited to the meetings of the plen-ary, the executive committee and the working groups; written opinions may also be solicited from experts. The presidium shall decide on the provision of any remuneration.

§ 8 Funding(1) The work of the Committee shall be funded from public and private contributions. In-kind contribu-tions shall be possible. (2) Commitments may only be undertaken to the ex-tent that the funds for their fulfi lment are available.

§ 9 Amendments to the Rules of Procedure, disso-lution of the CommitteeDecisions on amendments to the Rules of Procedure and on the dissolution of the Committee shall be taken by the plenary by a three-fourths majority of its members.

RULES OF PROCEDURE

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