Anniversary lecture series: Founding Director Wilhelm Siemen
40 years of Porzellanikon Hohenberg a.d. Eger:
Founding director Wilhelm Siemen talks about 40 years of Porzellanikon.
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Porzellanikon - State Museum of Porcelain, various events are planned. One highlight is a series of lectures on the origins and history of Porzellanikon, the development of the porcelain industry in Upper Franconia and important personalities from the region's porcelain industry. Wilhelm Siemen, founding director of Porzellanikon, will kick things off on Thursday, 30 June 2022, at 7:00 pm at Porzellanikon in Hohenberg a.d. Eger. Wilhelm Siemen will provide a look behind the scenes of the museum's construction. The long-standing director will take the audience on a journey through time and report on the gradual development of Porzellanikon as visitors know it today.
In 1982, the Museum of the German Porcelain Industry was opened in the director's villa of Carl Magnus Hutschenreuther in Hohenberg a.d. Eger, which initially belonged to the Fichtelgebirgsmuseum. When the two museums were separated, Wilhelm Siemen became director in 1985. He paved the way for the further development of the museum location in Hohenberg a.d. Eger. Only 10 years later, in 1995, a modern extension made of glass and steel was added to the historical building complex to provide 2000 m² of exhibition space. In 1988, the sponsorship of the museum was extended to include the town of Selb. This was the basis for the museum's development into the largest specialised museum for porcelain in Europe. As a networker, Wilhelm Siemen also succeeded in establishing partnerships with renowned museum institutions at home and abroad, which contributed to Porzellanikon's excellent reputation beyond the country's borders. Major EU projects helped to firmly establish Porzellanikon in the European museum landscape. In 2014, the museum was nationalised due to its importance as a memory of the region and thanks to the great commitment of its founder. Wilhelm Siemen retired at the end of 2019.
The price is museum admission. Appetizers and drinks will be provided. Registration is requested by calling Mandy Liebsch, tel. +49 9287-91800812 or by email at mandy.liebsch(at)porzellanikon.org.
Former director's villa C. M. Hutschenreuther, © Porzellanikon
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