DeutschlandRadio has an interesting update on the Flick Collection situation (previous entries here and here). While there won't be any mention of the family's history in the exhibition itself, they've got all sorts of other measures planned to prove that the SMPK are still Good People who take History seriously:
Zwar soll in der Ausstellung selbst die Familiengeschichte des Sammlers nicht thematisiert werden - schließlich gehe es um die Kunst, so Lehmann. Um die Ausstellung herum hat die Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz jedoch ein ganzes Paket von Maßnahmen zur Schadensbegrenzung geschnürt: Die Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung wird Gesprächskreise zur Bewältigung der NS-Vergangenheit organisieren. Und Klaus-Dieter Lehmann will ein Symposium moderieren, an dem neben Künstlern und Politikern auch die entschiedenen Gegner des Berliner Ausstellungs-Projekts teilnehmen sollen. Wer konkret dazu eingeladen wird oder bereits zugesagt hat, wollte Lehmann allerdings nicht verraten.
Darüber hinaus hat die Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz beim Münchner Institut für Zeitgeschichte ein Forschungsprojekt in Auftrag gegeben, das die Geschichte der Industriellenfamilie Flick beleuchten soll. In welcher Form dessen Ergebnisse veröffentlicht werden sollen, und ob sie in Verbindung mit der Ausstellung präsentiert werden, ist noch unklar.
For comparison, here's the Spiegel's report.
So: Berlin gets this apparently great collection of contemporary art, and, if the SMPK does this properly, the city also has an ongoing series of open discussions. Can't argue with trying to engage people, especially when you're dealing with a donor with a loaded legacy behind him. In general, really, a museum that is "living" in this way is much more use as a public institution than one which doesn't have these kinds of programs. But it's a little worrisome that they haven't worked out the details yet, especially since it's supposed to open at the end of September. Another worry is the duration of the show: will they be able to sustain this kind of public dialogue for 7 years?
Wonder what they'll do for Lange Nacht der Museen.
[keep reading for English trans. of the quote]
The collector's family history won't be treated in the exhibition itself - this is about art, says Lehmann (pres. of the SMPK). But around the show, the foundation has organized a package of measures designed to minimize damage: the Federal Center for political Education will organize discussions on overcoming the Nazi past. And Lehmann wants to moderate a symposium in which artists, politicians, and those who vehemently opposed the Berlin exhibition will participate. But Lehmann would not reveal who had been invited or who had already confirmed.
In addition, the Foundation has commissioned the Munich Institute for Contemporary History to start a research project designed to shed light on the history of the industrialist family (Flick). It is still unclear in what form the results of this study will be made available, as is whether they will be presented in conjunction with the exhibition.
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