Berlin: Meerapfel new president of the Academy of Arts – ZEIT ONLINE

For the first time there is a woman at the helm of the 300-year-old Academy of Arts in Berlin: The filmmaker Jeanine Meerapfel was elected president of AdK

30th May 2015 17:32 clock

director Jeanine Meerapfel on the edge of the shooting of film “The German Friend” | © Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa

Jeanine Meerapfel is new president of the Berlin Academy of Arts. The meeting elected the 71-year-old filmmaker to successor of longtime President Klaus Staeck (77). Meerapfel is the first woman to head the academy, founded in 1696. New vice-president is the writer Kathrin Röggla (43).

The poster artist Staeck and his deputy Nele Hertling (81) Pursuant to the Articles were not taken up again after three terms of office. The new President Meerapfel belongs to since 1998 the renowned artist community, for three years she was deputy director in the field of film and media art. She became famous with movies like Malou , Annas Sommer and The German Friend .

The Academy has the task to promote arts and to advise the policy in cultural policy issues. After the spectacular resignation of former President Adolf Muschg Staeck had the Institution awarded profile again since 2006.

At the general meeting on Saturday should also consider the other twelve items in leading the Senate to be filled. For the evening, a memorial service for the late writer Günter Grass is planned, who

stood at the head of the Academy from 1983 to 1986.

The Berlin Academy of Arts is a more than 300 year-old institution. It goes back to the 1696 from later Prussia King Frederick I launched the Mahler Academie, sculpture and Architectur art.

Currently, the artistic community has 404 members, including Ai Weiwei, Bob Dylan and Bruce Nauman, Dominik Graf, Tom Tykwer and Wim Wenders. The members are elected by proposals from the departments for life. The average age is thus relatively high. Only 22 percent of members are women.

The relevant body is the 14-member Senate. Its members include President / Vice-President and in / in and the directors of the six sections – Fine Arts, architecture, music, literature, performing arts, film and media art – at

.