Ursula Schaller takes over as cultural advisor for culture, adult education and museums. © Osman
Landsberg – Ursula Schaller is one of the successors of the late cultural advisor Axel Flörke. Because the office actually does work for two, it was divided. Ursula Schaller (SPD) will be responsible for culture, adult education and museums.
It was about the replacement of the cultural department, which Axel Flörke had exercised with great commitment. At the suggestion of Mayor Doris Baumgartl (UBV), the department was divided into the areas of "Culture, Adult Education and Museums" and "Tourism and Heritage Care". For the former, there were three applications and a battle vote, which Schaller won with 17 votes. Heidi Reiser and Roger Mandl (both Greens) received ten and three votes, respectively. Ulla Schäfer (FDP) was unanimously elected as the consultant for tourism and heritage (portrait follows). There were no other applicants here.
Schaller brings plenty of experience and enthusiasm even more so. "I spend a lot of time in culture," says the 69-year-old. She appreciates the Municipal Theatre, the Town Hall Concerts, the Organ Summer, Kurt Tykwer's Film Forum, the Music School. "I believe that the diverse range of cultural offerings is definitely a location factor for the city," says the former headmistress of the primary school on Spitalplatz. When she travels with groups of visitors as a tour guide, she is always amazed at what the small town of Landsberg has to offer.
Schaller, who returned to the city council two years ago as a successor to the retired Christina Roidl, looks back on a lot of experience in local politics. She was already a member of the city council from 2002 to 2014. And it has the kind of long-standing networking that could hardly be established quickly, even with the greatest effort. In the city youth band she meets former students. She was a regular guest at the Stadtmuseum with her classes and rehearsed for decades with ever new children for the Ruethenfest. She sits on the board of the Friends of Municipal Museums and on the board of trustees of the VHS. There are also connections to the ballet scene. Son Wolfgang Tietze is a professional dancer, was awarded the district's cultural promotion prize in 2002 and soon afterwards the Bavarian Youth Culture Prize and now works with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam.
Museum education is a matter close to the heart of the former teacher, as is awakening a sense of history in children. During the Ruethenfest, she will once again lead the children from the Landsknecht camp through the old town and introduce them to the many special features of Landsberg. "It's important that children and young people get to know their city first."
She herself still needs to get to know the visual artist scene better, Schaller admits. She is happy "about all exhibitions" and is a fan of the Long Night of Art, although she hopes that this year the exhibited works will be more in the spotlight than last time.
Schaller sees maintaining and further developing the breadth of cultural offerings as the main task of her new office. Without financial support from outside, however, this will not work. "Culture is only possible with sponsoring associations." Fortunately, there are, as well as sponsors with funding pots. In addition, Schaller is convinced that good, feasible ideas will continue to be financially supported by the city, even if municipal funds become scarcer. "I'm not so pessimistic." Incidentally, the new cultural advisor is looking forward to suggestions from the population. "When something is brought to me by citizens, I have two open ears."
