Good practice:

Change of defense barrack into a “culture fortress”

The project contributes to the revitalisation of the city of Magdeburg as a cultural and university city, as reaction to the alarming emigration of young people; integrating universities into the city.
It supports the identification of Magdeburg’s population with their (fortress) history. While maintaining the above mentioned aims, the Festung Mark Operating company ensures the economic and autonomous viability. The protected fortification heritage is thus preserved. The concept of use entails: 1. diverse cultural activities (concerts, theatre, film, art exhibitions, readings, student parties); 2. Gastronomy business (supplement of the culture business, gastronomic support of banquets and other events); 3. banquet business and renting of sections for events;
also: fairs, markets and parties in the courtyard; 4. Offer and mediation of services (interior design, event concepts, support u.v.m.).
The operating concept works through the foundation of the Kulturstiftung "FestungMark". The foundation purpose is the promotion of art and culture in the fortress Mark and the preservation of the monument as a forum of cultural and academic life in Magdeburg. In 2007, the "Festung Mark" operating company Ltd. took over the management of the house, a subsidiary of KulturSzeneMagdeburg e.V. and KulturStiftung Festung Mark.

First evacuation measures of the inner court and the inner areas as well as provisional roof renovation with the support of work promotion measures.
Start of reconstruction work through the national funding programme 'Stadtumbau Ost' and ERDF (Construction volume: approx. € 4,15 million).

The monument was preserved and a cultural venue was built in the center of the city which will be maintained by the operating company in the long term. This also relieves the city of maintenance costs.

The implementation of this ambitious project requires the formation of a broad political alliance. There was a lot of approval and sympathy from all sides, but also a few concerns about the possibilities of financing.

The project is a good example of civic engagement. By founding the student initiative with a subsequent skillful networking of different actors from the cultural and academic field, a broad citizenship could be won in support. The interplay between conservation of the monument and cultural use strengthens the public perception of this cultural heritage and complements the cultural offer in the city. This could only succeed with the support of public subsidies.