As of: February 18, 2024, 7:44 p.m
By: Stefan Aigner
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Looking for a new management for the Regensburg museums: cultural advisor Wolfgang Dersch.
© Stefan Aigner
After a long internal dispute, the previous head of the Regensburg museums was transferred.
A successor is now being sought.
Regensburg – In the end, Wolfgang Dersch, Regensburg’s cultural advisor, got the cow off the ice.
It's about a personality that required a lot of sensitivity and yet almost failed.
A personality that has had a lasting impact on the relationship of trust between the administration and the city council.
Former museum director now responsible for the depot
Specifically, it's about Dr.
Doris Gerstl, until recently head of the Regensburg museums, has been “scientific general curator in the management service of the Regensburg museums” since January 1st, as stated in a press release from the city of Regensburg.
In the future, Gerstl will devote himself to viewing and scientifically researching the depot's holdings, it says.
The art historian with a doctorate is praised as a “recognized expert in her field”.
“With this new position, the art historical treasures and their significance for the material and intangible heritage of the city of Regensburg are intended to be placed even more clearly in focus,” said Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer.
Former museum director transferred to depot: personnel almost failed
The fact that this resolution of the differences that have existed for years between Gerstl and cultural advisor Dersch almost failed is (understandably) not mentioned.
Gerstl, who holds a doctorate in art history, took over the management of the museums in May 2018, during the time of the former cultural advisor Klemens Unger, whose term in office was not without scandals, large and small.
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Museum director Gerstl: The best solution after a scandalous tender
Gerstl was probably the best solution at the time in view of a tender that was made under Unger's responsibility and was tailored to a favorite he liked.
However, he threw in the towel after this all-too-obvious nepotism caused severe public criticism.
And so, given the wording of the advertisement, basically only female applicants from Regensburg were considered and a new advertisement from the city seemed too embarrassing. Only Doris Gerstl remained, who it was hoped would grow into the role.
When Wolfgang Dersch succeeded Unger in 2019 and thus also became Gerstl's superior, there were repeated differences between him and the museum director - of a personal but also substantive nature.
From the city council?
A solution negotiated internally leaked out
Against this background, Gerstl's transfer to a position in the museum depot that was at least financially equivalent seemed to be a good solution in the interests of everyone involved.
However, this threatened to fail when details leaked and appeared in the press.
Gerstl withdrew her initial approval of the approach suggested by Mayor Maltz-Schwarzfischer.
Since the 61-year-old is not a civil servant, but rather an employee who would not have had to accept a transfer without further ado, there was a risk of a public labor court case.
This also posed the risk of a protracted dispute, which would have involved further reporting and the possibility that dirty laundry could be washed in public.
(By the way: Our Regensburg newsletter regularly informs you about all important stories from the world heritage city and the Upper Palatinate. Sign up here.)
After personnel details were leaked: Administration is considering consequences for the city council
And so in the end they pulled themselves together, also because those directly involved did not disclose any details to the public.
Cultural officer Dersch consistently said that he does not comment on personnel matters.
Internally, people are now reportedly thinking about presenting personnel matters to the city councilors only as a table template.
It is said that nothing was leaked from the administration.
“But as soon as the documents for the non-public personnel committee were out, it was in the newspaper.”
New management wanted for the museums: This time with a proper tender?
According to a city press release, who will succeed Gerstl in managing the city's museums, which was recently joined by the completely redesigned Kepler Memorial House - now known as document Kepler - will be decided "over the course of the year".
Then it will be advertised publicly – and this time hopefully not in Unger style.
Until that happens, “the deputy regulation takes effect”, i.e. Gerstl’s previous deputy, the historian and archaeologist Dr.
Andreas Boos.
The position created by Wolfgang Dersch for the new conception of the Historical Museum, which was delayed under Unger, has also been filled in the meantime.
This task is taken on by the art historian Dr.
Alexandra Brack.
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