Launch event of the event series

Public talk and Workshop

"Diversität in Arbeit" is a nationwide event series on the development of diversity in art and cultural institutions. Inspired by concrete questions from eight very different cultural institutions, the aim is to examine impulses from the business world that demonstrate successful ways of dealing with diversity.

At the opening event at the Museum for Sepulchral Culture, Museum Director Dr. Dirk Pörschmann met Kristina Beer, Head of Global Learning & People Development at SMA Solar Technology AG, Niesetal. The focus was on the question of the museum director:

"How can we develop the new permanent exhibition in such a way that the diverse perspectives and cultures it contains are included in the development of the presentation?

In her keynote speech, Kristina Beer gave exciting insights into the everyday working life of a globally active technology company and explained what diversity means within the framework of SMA Solar Technology AG. She spoke about the daily challenge of preserving what is established and at the same time always having to look for new perspectives in order to be successful in the long term. She said it was particularly important in international work teams to become aware of one's unconscious bias. These are learned stereotypes or prejudices that can automatically and unintentionally influence our thoughts and actions. In order to overcome one's own comfort zones, emotional imprints should always be questioned and an exchange with people and perspectives from outside the profession should be sought.

Finally, Kristina Beer shared an insight that is probably equally remarkable for a company and a cultural institution: She noted that the success of the SMA company does not primarily depend on the product to be sold, but on its performance – on the experience customers ultimately have through the product. Inspired by the remarks of the initiator, an intensive discussion on the manifold design possibilities of opening a museum arose, which was continued in the internal workshop on the following day and already resulted in first, concrete ideas to answer the initial question of the museum. 

All further dates and information on "Diversität in Arbeit" can be found on the website of the Stiftung Genshagen.

"Diversity in Work" will enter its second round next year. The deadline for applications for cultural institutions was November 3, 2019.

Impressions