In Memory of Ulrich Eckhardt

The distinguished cultural manager, musician and jurist shaped Berlin’s artistic life over several decades as Director and Managing Director of the Berliner Festspiele GmbH. His work was both artistically and culturally influential on a national and international scale, marked by bold, groundbreaking programmes that addressed issues of social relevance. From 1989 to 1990, he also simultaneously served as Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker. He was instrumental in the creation of the Topography of Terror Documentation Centre, initiated the House of World Cultures, and conceived numerous major exhibitions of contemporary art and large-scale cultural-historical projects. Under his directorship, key festival formats such as the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), the Berliner Festwochen, the Theatertreffen, the Jazzfest Berlin, the Musik-Biennale and the Berliner Lektionen discussion series were developed. His influence continues to shape Germany’s cultural landscape today. With Ulrich Eckhardt we have lost a visionary and a truly formative figure, whom we wish to honour together with you through speeches and artistic contributions at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.