Foundation GERMAN EMIGRATION CENTER

The DEUTSCHES AUSWANDERERHAUS Foundation is a foundation under civil law based in Bremerhaven. It was established in 2006 by the Initiative Group Experience Migration e.V., representatives of the Bremerhaven economy, the operating company of the German Emigration Center, and the city of Bremerhaven to support the German Emigration Center in significant research and exhibition projects and to establish it internationally.

The German Emigration Center is a public-private partnership project that was established with public funds and is managed by a non-profit operating company.

Objectives

The foundation initiates, promotes, and organizes charitable projects that convey the history of migration in relation to its cultural and historical significance for Germany, Europe, the United States, and other host countries to a wide audience both domestically and internationally. Through the foundation, the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven is particularly enabled to:

I. Research migration movements scientifically since the beginning of the 19th century;

II. Conduct thematic special events, exhibitions, projects, and conferences;

III. Acquire exhibits and collections on the topic;

IV. Establish and maintain a scientific database;

V. Build up and expand an archive library;

VI. Award research grants to scientists and students from European neighboring countries and overseas.

The German Emigration Center Foundation mourns Dr. Joachim Ditzen-Blanke.

With great commitment and high persuasive power, Dr. Joachim Ditzen-Blanke has accompanied the German Emigration Center from the very beginning: even before the museum opened, he, together with other Bremerhaven entrepreneurs, founded the “Initiative Circle Experience World Emigration” (today “Initiative Circle German Emigration Center e.V.”) in 1998 to promote the idea born by the citizens of Bremerhaven to create a museum dedicated to European migration history in the seaside city. From the start, Dr. Ditzen-Blanke was also a member of the museum’s internationally composed board of trustees. After the German Emigration Center was ceremoniously opened in August 2005, Dr. Joachim Ditzen-Blanke initiated the founding of the German Emigration Center Foundation in January 2006: he was one of the largest foundation donors and chair of the foundation council, enabling the museum to undertake noteworthy exhibition and research projects. In 2014, Dr. Joachim Ditzen-Blanke generously donated the “Kalliope Prize for Practice-Oriented Migration Research”, which further connects the museum with universities in Europe and strengthens Bremerhaven as a location for humanities research. The Kalliope Prize, awarded biennially, is one of the most highly endowed prizes for humanities research in Germany, totaling 20,000 euros. Even after stepping down from all positions, Dr. Ditzen-Blanke continued to take an active interest in the development of the German Emigration Center.

We will honor his memory and will greatly miss his tireless commitment to the foundation.

Matthias Ditzen-Blanke
Chairman of the Foundation Council
German Emigration Center Foundation

Jörg Schulz
Chairman of the Board
German Emigration Center Foundation

Dr. Jörg Verstl
Board Member
German Emigration Center Foundation

Dr. Simone Eick
Director German Emigration Center

In August 2019

Projects

KALLIOPE PRIZE FOR PRACTICE-ORIENTED MIGRATION RESEARCH

With the Kalliope Prize for Practical Migration Research, the Deutsches Auswandererhaus Foundation and the Deutsches Auswandererhaus Bremerhaven promote scientific works and (university) projects whose research results help cultural and educational institutions convey migration sustainably and globally. In particular, research works that illustrate the societal changes brought about by migration are of interest. The goal is also to promote cooperation between universities or non-university research institutions and museums, making research results accessible to a broad audience in museums.

Science at the Seeamt

Since June 2007, researchers at the Deutsches Auswandererhaus have been conducting studies in the former Seeamt Bremerhaven. Guest scientists from Europe and overseas also find space in the listed building for study stays. The restoration of the premises was made possible by the generous support of the Max Kade Foundation, New York. Founded in 1944 by the German-American Max Kade, the foundation supports universities, libraries, exchange programs, and student dormitories on both sides of the Atlantic. In Bremerhaven, the ‘Max Kade Room’ on the ground floor of the former Seeamt now commemorates the patron who emigrated from Schwäbisch Hall to America in 1904 and became a successful entrepreneur in New York. The donation was facilitated by the Deutsches Auswandererhaus Foundation. With the former negotiation room, where the Seeamt convened until 2002, the museum has an additional event space for lectures, workshops, and readings. Since August 2013, the Max Kade Room has housed a reference library on the topic of migration.

Felix Schlesinger – ‘In the Passport and Police Office before Emigration’

For the permanent exhibition of the German Emigration Center, the painting by Felix Schlesinger titled ‘In the Passport and Police Office Before Emigration’, oil on wood, 1859, was acquired. The painter Felix Schlesinger is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting, whose members in the first half of the 19th century also dealt with social and political subjects like emigration themes. The acquired painting enhances the museum’s exhibition with an important exhibit. It depicts one of the central moments in the life of an emigrant: the issuance of the passport. Only with this document was it possible to embark on a journey to neighboring countries or to leave one’s homeland permanently and emigrate. The purchase of this painting was made possible through a donation from the Initiativkreis Erlebniswelt Auswanderung e.V., Bremerhaven.

Donations

To achieve its non-profit objectives, the foundation relies on donations:

Foundation GERMAN EMIGRATION CENTER
Account: 1849492
Bank Code: 29250000
Sparkasse Bremerhaven
Mayor Smidt Street 24-30
27568 Bremerhaven

The Foundation GERMAN EMIGRATION CENTER is a legally established non-profit foundation based in Bremerhaven. Due to the promotion of charitable purposes, it was recognized as non-profit by a notice from the Bremerhaven tax office on October 18, 2007.

For questions and further information, we are happy to assist you.
info@stiftung-dah.org

Organs

Board

Jörg Schulz
Former State Secretary, Former Mayor
Chairman

Dr. Jörg Verstl, Hamburg

Foundation Council

Matthias Ditzen-Blanke
Spokesperson
Chairman, Initiativkreis Erlebniswelt Auswanderung e.V., Bremerhaven

Prof. Dr. Hauke Hilz
City Council

Caio Koch-Weser
Former State Secretary, Berlin

Andreas Heller
Architect, German Emigration Center Non-Profit GmbH

Contact

Jörg Schulz
Lawyer
Former State Councilor, Former Mayor
Chairman of the Board

Dr. Jörg Verstl
Dipl. Kfm.; Tax Consultant
Board Member

Columbusstraße 65
D–27568 Bremerhaven
T + 49 (0) 4 71 / 902 20 – 103
F + 49 (0) 4 71 / 902 20 – 22
info@stiftung-dah.org

Statutes

Imprint

Foundation Deutsches Auswandererhaus
Columbusstraße 65
D–27568 Bremerhaven
T + 49 (0) 4 71 / 902 20 – 103
F + 49 (0) 4 71 / 902 20 – 22
info@stiftung-dah.org

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