German Parliament Approves Major Reform of Preußischer Kulturbesitz Foundation

The overhaul aims to modernize Germany's largest cultural institution by increasing autonomy and restructuring its leadership.

The Bundestag passed a law reforming the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK), replacing the outdated 1957 legislation.
The reform introduces a collegial board of up to seven members to replace the sole leadership of a president, with term limits for leadership roles.
The SPK's governing council will be reduced from 20 to 9 members, with rotating representation from federal states and permanent membership for Berlin.
Museums under the SPK will gain greater financial autonomy with their own budgets, addressing long-standing inefficiencies.
Despite the changes, critics note the foundation remains underfunded compared to global counterparts like the Smithsonian Institution.