After thirty years of service, last weekend the head of the cultural office, Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Bayer retires. Mayor Jan Rothenbacher paid full tribute to his life's achievements and then introduced Sebastian Huber as his successor.
Memmingen – As Dr. When Hans-Wolfgang Bayer took up his post on April 1, 1994, the cultural landscape in Memmingen was completely different, said Mayor Jan Rothenbacher. Much of what we consider normal today did not exist back then. Dr. With its work, Bayer laid the foundation for well-known and recognized institutions such as the MEWO-Kunsthalle, the Kaminwerk and the redesign of the Landestheater Schwaben (LTS). The “Memminger Meile” is also part of an “incredible life’s work with great proximity to the citizenry”. In the last year of service of the outgoing head of the cultural office, the “Memminger Meile” achieved its strongest year to date in terms of acceptance, visitor numbers and reputation for the city. This last “mile” alone is proof that Dr. Bayer did not let his term of service expire, but was fully involved until the end, said Rothenbacher.
Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Bayer humbly thanked him for the “beautiful work” that Memmingen had made possible for him. Back then, he “jumped on a bandwagon,” which was difficult, but working with a total of four mayors was comparatively easy for him, as was “jumping out of that bandwagon.” He is excited to see what happens next and hopes that the citizens will also support and welcome the new developments. He wished his successor Sebastian Huber all the best.
Successors from the region
Mayor Rothenbacher joined this “warm welcome for the new head of the cultural office”. The 45-year-old was born in Memmingen and grew up in Ottobeuren and Kempten before he began his journey into the world. Among other things, he worked at the Goethe Institute in Mexico, helped organize the Berlinale and, until recently, was also deputy head of the cultural office in Ulm. Huber, said the mayor, will also deal with demographic change in the city in the future. “How can you face this in culture?” says Rothenbacher. After all, it’s about “taking the following generations along, reinventing things and coming together,” because culture is a wonderful instrument that contributes to social cohesion.
Sebastian Huber thanked the mayor and his predecessor in the cultural office for the warm welcome and the handover time. He himself sees Memmingen “as a cultural city that radiates to the outside world”. The city has become a reference point for many other cities in terms of culture of remembrance and museums. We shouldn't rest on our laurels, but rather think ahead and expand the cultural landscape. Huber also sees the elements of the cultural landscape as educational institutions that need to be promoted.
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