Coburger Landesstiftung

The Coburger Landesstiftung (Coburg State Foundation) is a legally independent public-law foundation (rechtsfähige Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts) based in Coburg, Germany. It was created on 9 August 1919 by the Free State of Coburg through the "Law on the Use of the Former Domain Property and the Establishment of a State Foundation," with the aim of keeping the cultural assets of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg in their legitimate locations. The foundation's purpose is to promote art, science, and popular education (Volksbildung). It fulfills this purpose by using its endowment funds, generally allocating two-thirds for projects in the city of Coburg and one-third for projects in the district of Coburg. The foundation's endowment originally included the art treasures of the Veste Coburg, collections in the Hofgartenmuseum (today the Natural History Museum), and the furnishings of Ehrenburg Palace, transferred from the former Duke Carl Eduard to the state under the compensation agreement of 7 June 1919. It was also charged with maintaining and administering the court and state library (later the Coburg State Library) and the state and house document collection (later the Coburg State Archives). Financing was initially secured through half of the net revenues of the state-owned domain forests, estates, and other properties. A supplementary agreement of 30 June 1920 made Rosenau Palace the property of the foundation. After Coburg joined Bavaria on 1 July 1920, the real estate became the property of Bavaria, which is also responsible for its maintenance. The foundation retained ownership of the entire art inventory. Today, the foundation is the owner and operator of the region's largest museums: the Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg (Coburg Fortress Art Collections), the European Museum of Modern Glass (Europäisches Museum für Modernes Glas) near Rosenau Palace, and the Coburg Natural History Museum (Naturkunde-Museum Coburg). Since 1941, it has also managed Ehrenburg Palace and Rosenau Palace and Park on behalf of the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, since 1999 under the name "Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Coburg." In addition, the foundation is culturally and socially active through the Niederfüllbacher Stiftung and the Scheres-Zieritz-Stiftung. For 15 years it has organized the annual Museum Night, the "Nacht der Kontraste," which attracts more than 10,000 culture enthusiasts over six hours. The foundation is governed by a board (Vorstand) and is subject to state oversight. Its funding comes from state subsidies, which replaced fluctuating domain revenues in 1932, and from the awarding of heritable building rights (Erbbaurechte) through the Niederfüllbacher Stiftung. In 2005, approximately 2.7 million euros in state allocations were planned in the Bavarian budget, covering among other things eleven civil servant positions. The foundation also publishes the Jahrbuch der Coburger Landesstiftung (Yearbook of the Coburg State Foundation), first issued in 1956, with 67 volumes as of 2024. It remains a central cultural institution in the Coburg region, preserving the ducal heritage for the benefit of the public.

The Coburger Landesstiftung was established on 9 August 1919 by the Free State of Coburg through the "Law on the Use of the Former Domain Property and the Establishment of a State Foundation." Its creation was intended to bind the cultural assets of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg to their legitimate locations. Under the compensation agreement of 7 June 1919 with the former Duke Carl Eduard, the foundation received ownership of the art treasures of the Veste Coburg, the collections in the Hofgartenmuseum (today the Natural History Museum), and the furnishings of Ehrenburg Palace. It was also tasked with maintaining and administering the court and state library (later the Coburg State Library) and the state and house document collection (later the Coburg State Archives). The buildings that came into state ownership were made available for the foundation's exclusive use for exhibition and administration. Financing was to be secured through half of the net revenues from the state-owned domain forests, estates, and other properties. A supplementary agreement of 30 June 1920 between the Free State of Coburg and the foundation made Rosenau Palace the property of the foundation. After the Free State of Coburg united with the Free State of Bavaria on 1 July 1920, the real estate became the property of Bavaria, which also had to cover its maintenance. The foundation retained ownership of the entire art inventory. In the Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg and its branch museum, the European Museum of Modern Glass near Rosenau Palace, the foundation makes its art treasures accessible to the public; the natural history collections are displayed in the Coburg Natural History Museum. Since 1941, the foundation has managed Ehrenburg and Rosenau Palaces on behalf of the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, since 1999 under the name "Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Coburg." In 1937, the then State Archives Department Coburg took over the administration of the State Archives; in 1973, the State Library was taken over by the Free State of Bavaria. In 1972, the foundation sold Rosenau Palace to the Free State of Bavaria. In 1954, the foundation acquired 50,000 volumes of the private library of the last duke. Due to fluctuating revenues from the former domain properties, the foundation's financing was converted to fixed state subsidies in 1932. In 2005, approximately 2.7 million euros in allocations from the Bavarian state were planned in the budget, covering among other things eleven civil servant positions. The foundation also operates the Niederfüllbacher Stiftung, established in 1907 by Leopold II, King of the Belgians, with its seat in Coburg. Since 1957, the Niederfüllbacher Stiftung has pursued the unchanged purpose of promoting art, science, and popular education in the city and district of Coburg. Its funding is largely generated through the awarding of heritable building rights (Erbbaurechte). The preparation and execution of grants decided by the board of the Niederfüllbacher Stiftung is carried out by the Coburger Landesstiftung, Hauptverwaltung, Schloss Ehrenburg, Coburg. The foundation also manages the Scheres-Zieritz-Stiftung. For 15 years, it has organized the annual Museum Night, the "Nacht der Kontraste," which attracts more than 10,000 visitors over six hours. The foundation publishes the Jahrbuch der Coburger Landesstiftung, first issued in 1956, with 67 volumes as of 2024.

• 2024

  67 volumes of the Jahrbuch der Coburger Landesstiftung published as of 2024.

• 2005

  Approximately 2.7 million euros in state allocations planned in Bavarian budget, covering eleven civil servant positions.

• 1999

  Palace administration renamed "Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Coburg".

• 1973

  State Library taken over by the Free State of Bavaria.

• 1972

  Foundation sold Rosenau Palace to the Free State of Bavaria.

• 1957

  Niederfüllbacher Stiftung, established 1907, began pursuing its current purpose of promoting art, science, and popular education in Coburg city and district.

• 1956

  First volume of the Jahrbuch der Coburger Landesstiftung published.

• 1954

  Foundation acquired 50,000 volumes of the private library of the last duke.

• 1941

  Foundation began managing Ehrenburg and Rosenau Palaces on behalf of the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes.

• 1937

  State Archives Department Coburg took over administration of the State Archives.

• 1932

  Financing converted to fixed state subsidies due to fluctuating domain revenues.

• 1920

  Supplementary agreement of 30 June made Rosenau Palace the property of the foundation.

• 1920

  Free State of Coburg united with Bavaria on 1 July; real estate became property of Bavaria, foundation retained art inventory.

• 1919

  Founded on 9 August by the Free State of Coburg through the Law on the Use of the Former Domain Property and the Establishment of a State Foundation.

• 1919

  Compensation agreement of 7 June with former Duke Carl Eduard transferred art treasures of Veste Coburg, Hofgartenmuseum collections, and Ehrenburg Palace furnishings to the foundation.

A public-law foundation preserving and promoting the art, culture, and scientific heritage of the former Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, operating major museums and palaces in the Coburg region.

• Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg

  Art collections of the Veste Coburg, owned and operated by the foundation.

• Europäisches Museum für Modernes Glas

  Branch museum near Rosenau Palace, owned and operated by the foundation.

• Naturkunde-Museum Coburg

  Natural history museum, owned and operated by the foundation.

• Schloss Ehrenburg

  Palace managed by the foundation on behalf of the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes.

• Schloss und Park Rosenau

  Palace and park managed by the foundation on behalf of the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes.

• Jahrbuch der Coburger Landesstiftung

  Annual publication first issued in 1956, with 67 volumes as of 2024.

1. 1Coburger Landesstiftung – 100 Jahre I Kunst & Wissenschaft. Regional & International. Geschichte & Moderne.coburger-landesstiftung.de
2. 2Über uns – Coburger Landesstiftungcoburger-landesstiftung.de
3. 3Über uns – Coburger Landesstiftungcoburger-landesstiftung.de
4. 4Geschichte – Coburger Landesstiftungcoburger-landesstiftung.de
5. 5Coburger Landesstiftungwikidata.org
6. 6Coburger Landesstiftungde.wikipedia.org