Cultural policy: Berlin’s Senator for Culture, Chialo, wants Barenboim’s successor as soon as possible

Berlin’s culture senator Joe Chialo has given up his job as a successful music manager for a senate post in the government of the CDU and SPD. This means that many areas of the cultural scene are still new political territory for the CDU politician. In an interview with the German Press Agency, the 52-year-old commented on personal things and upcoming issues.

racism

Chialo, born in Bonn into a Tanzanian diplomatic family, grew up with racism. Even his success didn’t change that. “Racism, in many forms, is always there. Sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle,” he reports. His father recommended success as the best way to combat racism. “That’s why it’s so important for me not to see myself as a victim, but to look ahead and actively shape my future, i.e. to want to be successful.”

Humboldt Forum

As one of five institutions, Berlin is caught up in the confusion of the multi-million dollar German prestige project, the Humboldt Forum. Chialo’s predecessor Klaus Lederer (left) wanted to get out with the city museum. “We are in talks about the Humboldt Forum,” says Chialo. With Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens), he wants to reflect on “several aspects”, discuss them and compare positions. “My predecessor had good reasons for making the decision he made. We now come with a fresh perspective and will position ourselves accordingly in the talks.”

Museum of the 20th Century

At the Kulturforum, the Museum of the 20th Century is being built by the Federal Government for around 450 million euros as a further location for the National Gallery. The environment is considered a problem – and is a matter for Berlin. “Skateboarders really enjoy the concrete desert, but seriously: the Kulturforum is difficult to find in the vicinity of the museums,” says Chialo. He also wants to sit down with Claudia Roth. “People should also perceive staying there as a value in itself. After all, there are several museums next to each other, each with world-class works!”

Restitutions and relationship to Africa

After the spectacular return of cultural assets from the colonial past, Chialo wants to continue down this path. “When it comes to restitutions, we should always ask ourselves what happens if we don’t return items,” he says. “But returns are above all an important sign that some of the wrongs are being corrected – and it is not up to us to give advice with a raised index finger as to what should happen to looted art in the respective countries of origin. That much self-discipline should be there that you just stay out of it at this point.”

Chialo wants more than just a glimpse into a burdened past. Africa is a young continent with an average age of 20 to 25 years. “It needs a perspective for the future,” he said, which is why relations with Africa should be improved and, for example, artist partnerships should be promoted.

Successor to Daniel Barenboim

With the resignation of Daniel Barenboim as general music director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden due to illness, Chialo is responsible for the internationally renowned occupation of a top-class position. “We’re working hard,” he says. The successor should be decided later this year.

“I have met the future artistic director Elisabeth Sobotka several times. We are in a predetermined process. Everyone only ever looks at the conductor’s desk.” The director is important with her power to further develop operations, programs and climate in the house, he says. “It’s about preserving the house in its excellence and tradition and still opening doors for a modern future.” For Chialo it is clear: “If I have an equivalent excellence with two candidates, I would always prefer a woman. And if we could find a woman with a migration background, then of course it would be even better.”