And im a citizen of the world thats certainly because of my own biography. Well, i fled from breslau during the bombardment, including i grew up in a small town. And libraries were how i got to know the world. I visited north africa as a schoolboy. I was 17 or 18 and we drove folks who are going to band through all the north african countries. I was always drawn to Foreign Countries because i had this curiosity about how other people live, think and work. And it was always worth it. Yes, im a citizen of the world, and this is the story of a the story of the final year in the korea of detail a man. He has shaped the german Cultural Landscape of the last decades like few others with his incredible ability to grasp the right moment. Hes been head of the gemma National Library, the driving force behind the lens Famous Museum island, and president of germanys cultural powerhouse. The good to institute, but his last 12 months didnt go as planned. A final official trip to the african continent. After a long flight, the president of the gerta institute touched down in namibia for my german colony. The history is everywhere in the capital of into the colossal Independence Museum tells the story of the long struggle for liberation from colonialism. And the most recent chapter of that story is all about restitution. Bringing namibias cultural artifacts back to the country. Hendrik is a case in point. The tribal leader is in the may be a national hero, thanks to his role in the resistance against german colonial rule. At the end of the 19th century. That boy, symbolic bible and whip, were taken by the germans after his death. Their return was an important 1st step. Islam is going to spread. It isnt just the removal of objects. Its basically the breaking of people of personalities of their selfdetermination and selfconfidence killing. This was coming along. He owns them, cannot be glossed over. Its doing this is simply a beginning. Theres a lot more to be done yet still inside. So nows the time to get to know each other show to talk to africans in africa about these experiences. You know, to Exchange Ideas so that these stories can be told of children of limon was also in the maybe a to visit the local good to institute in the center of into its one of 157, across the world. Germanys National Cultural institution is active in nearly 100 countries. With more than 3 and a half 1000 employees. Its mission is to promote the german language and strengthen cultural collaboration. The team here had spent weeks preparing a major conference, the topic. What should a post Colonial Museum look like . The Conference Venue was in the 2 tura, a former apartheid era township on the outskirts of into the conference was part of a long term project that brings together Museum Experts and Creative Minds from across africa. If you dont believe me, we believe in the unity even in the 12 years hes been president of the good to institute, a man has developed good relationships with partners in africa. So there was a sense that things were coming full circle for him. His very 1st official trip was to another former german colony. Flash back to 2008, layman, fresh in the job, travelled to tanzania with good news. The years of austerity were over. After a decade of being closed, the go to institute in Dar Es Salaam would be reopened if the object that others are laymens african counterparts hoped that his special interest in the continent would live on even after he left. Of course, every person who lives there is a potential drop, but hopefully that the person who comes is someone who also has a deep understanding of africa because africa is not a complex. And its also what good a deep scars. So i hope that were attacks over to someone who is sensitive, someone will score so just and someone who also has the pressures and the passion for the continent and the colonial past was ever present in the discussions. But the Conference Also revealed a bright new job narration coming up in the arts and Museum Worlds wide. Philemon fresh concept site digitalisation made this conference stand out. Today the society in which we find ourselves in today does not agree with the principles of formal museums. So if you cant communicate to an audience, you dont understand, you know, you need be said, the median age of africa is 90. So its really critical that we start asking this question that who are we speaking to . How are we speaking to them . What platforms are they using that now it was farewell to africa. The continent that changed how close detail a man saw the world. How they were, ive always found it terrible that africa is only associated with negative stories. I have experienced so many positive things and i think we simply have to get them across to the muslim world is good news needs to be given a chance as well. All that would soon come back in germany. In a few weeks later, they go to Institute Head at cleared at the frankfurt books and the worlds biggest media trade fair with the book and Media Industry come together to network. Negotiate celebrate and debate with the pass a stage for laymen to talk about his experiences in the into the say i was expecting 300000 visitors to franklin still spear stands for freedom of expression and diversity of opinion. So its locked in on my calendar that i build everything around their dates. For me, its both a duty. The pleasure of the book also meant returning to the roots, a mans career. Cough a century ago. He studied physics and mathematics in this part of western germany before making the decision to devote himself to library science. It was 1968 in frankfurt was a booming metropolis. Consumption and growth were being celebrated in the new shopping streets, as well as at the stock exchange. But germany was awoken from this daydream of prosperity by voices of protest from the streets. Students were rebelling against an outdated system and capitalism. The protesters sought intellectual support from the neo marxist thinkers of the socalled Frankfurt School. They, however, rejected violent social revolution. Was no revolutionary iser, and the street was not his arena, but he did want to bring about change. His chance came in the form of the frankfurt city and university library. When i was 33. 00, i had the privilege of becoming director of the library there. I tried to reunite the whole Frankfurt School to the cities of critical theory. So i brought together the literary estates and archives of laos whove been taught to make the library in frankfurt, a center of the last 15 years later in 1988 and was appointed director of the National Library in frankfurt. Or more precisely, the west, german half of it, the other half was in life to germanys 2 national libraries. The cold war even divided the world of good books. When i became general director of the National Library in frankfurt in 88. 00, i made my 1st trip to live. I didnt think it was right for us to be separate entities. But given that we were founded on common goals, we talked about that in leipsic. This group you visited at the end of the 1980 s. Was in pretty rough shape for decades after the division of germany. This once flourishing city of literature was in steep decline. As was the entire communist state, the regime was crumbling. He went there to visit the socalled memory of the nation, the German Library and like this was founded in 1912 to collect all german language publications under one roof in 1949, it became the Central Library of the work state. Meanwhile, the weston counterpart was set up in frankfurt with the saying goals. Then in the autumn of 1909, everything changed 1st in like then in berlin and across the whole of east germany. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in a peaceful revolution flanked by writers like stephan haim. What a transformation. Its as if someone has opened the windows after all these years of stagnation started, not she was the people liberated themselves from communist rule and east germany fell apart. Lehmans informal talks with librarians and say, suddenly became a Political Mission to really, you know, fi the institution. What would become of the German Library in life has been a library in there since 1974 and was part of negotiations after the wall came down. He was among those who feared that east germany would end up on the losing side of reunification with the rules. We sat here in this room because he and his partner sat here at the front and i was sitting on one of the chairs at the back somewhere. I can remember it quite clearly. Initially there was a brief silence. He must have been asking himself how we in life would react to these invaders. But it wasnt an invasion. He was pretty clear about that. He said we were working on a common plan because one of the 1st sentences i can still remember was, the greater germany thats coming into being here could certainly use a National Library with 2 locations. Instead of offering 1st it was night. And frankfurts name and solution safeguarded the internal unity of the National Library and march 990. 00, we were united and we bonded in some funny ways. For example, we met halfway between live frankfurt and the city of funk. And we formed a joint soccer team. We put on a review show. In other words, we got to see the real people behind their organizational roles. Thats how we built up a report. In august, 1982, german states signed the unification treaty and crown princes palace, and the status of the new National Library was made official, including its cation. Thats when the real began that i want to get picked on and he always looked to the future and told us all along with him. And he had to tackle some difficult problems. For example, marshalling the stasi investigation and the staff cuts as well, but it wasnt necessarily easy. He did it with the kind of rigor you need in a leader for Something Like that. But he was also sympathetic. So i dont think anyone really felt hurt because that was quite an achievement of traits if you like cigs the life we direct to since 912 lords of the a more civilized in oil paint on the wall. Opposite close detail. A man in black and white. The portrait was made by his friend, superstar photographer Helmut Newton and not only marks the beginning of a new era, but was also open to interpretation as it isnt my yet so 1st of all, its a very down to earth. Spirit of the 2nd, the image suggests that he is striving upwards, Something Like a tree of man. How hes deceived, also plays an Important Role for him. Thats clear. And you can also see that he has a sense of how an image functions and how to come across well in a new ecological age. Exposed concrete, steel and glass below that on 3 floors, an underground deposit tree. 30000 square meters of books. Frank long planned new german National Library building was completed in 1997 degrees. The chancellor himself attended the inauguration and what course was an average, but nothing firm after the ceremony, he wanted to see the books. So we went into the underground stacks and we barely made it out again because cole was so fascinated walking along the shelves. They were like a chronicle of history because everything was chronologically arranged is in was a key, kept blowing out different books. I said, mr. Chancellor, we should really get back to our guests. Didnt interest him. I think we were in the stacks for 3 hours. That was call he always had a lot of time for books. And for the library, there was mostly due to political one year and the last election later call it was no longer chancellor pete handed power to get how exclude the seats of government in parliament. Moved from dawn to berlin and took on a new position as president of the pression Cultural Heritage foundation. On the threshold of the new millennium, it was germanys most important cultural role. It brought with it the chance to reshape the face of the Nations Capital with the help of a little political good. Well, it was a strong supporter of Museum Island. We didnt have to call on his name, but knowing that someone saw this cultural long sample as the intellectual center of germany was very important to us, all she did in 2000 days at the age of 68, lehmann made another big korea may becoming president of the good to Institute ChancellorAngela Merkel paid him a personal visit when he took office. It was a 1st and also a sign of the growing global significance of cultural diplomacy. One day it was important for us that the chancellor made such a clear signal. So soon after i had begun my time as you know, to Institute Director in munich. So those were my 3 encounters and they were all positive. Im quite an independent spirit and independence has always been important to me. I dont belong to a Political Party so i can always speak personally based on facts. And that probably wasnt a bad thing either. To support not only in the government but also in Parliament Said no, but he was then president of the bundestag. Im one of the most experienced members of parliament because a man skillful balancing act between culture and politics in mind was on the way i see it. He was always there, especially when it came to german cultural policy. And as he doesnt compete with artists, which is something best not done in a role like that, neither does he display the at times borderline affectations of a successful manager. But rather he connects the 2 creating both internal and external consensus in the open. Thats important for the image and effectiveness of institutions like this. It will be used in 2900 renowned german violinist, honestly more to scope. 20 of the worlds biggest prizes, the premium imperioli awarded by the japan are to say, ca sion lehmann has been an International Advisor to the prize for years responsible for recommending candidates. This is a violinist was his choice. It was a tightrope between distance and proximity. But that is more important to laymen than ostentatious friendship in culture, as well as in politics. The meiji came then a traditional site for formal celebrations at amongst the parks and palaces near the legendary meiji shrine. In the heart of tokyo hosted the awards ceremony. Though its not like im one unit i guess must live man was quite at home in the highly formal setting. Prince and princess itachi were present on behalf of japans imperial din. A state excellence is distinguished guests with an equivalent value of 125000 euros. Its the richest prize in the world and testament to japans commitment to the arts. Him and it was really a calm presence in the middle of everything running things and giving everyone the feeling that they were at the center of proceedings. In fact, it was he who was probably at the heart of it all, holding the reins when terror in germany and the everyday routine as they get institute at the cultural institutions headquarters near the center of munich. Its time for the socalled president ial breakfast. Its a way for a layman to ensure that internal exchanges can happen and free from a strict top down hierarchy. That something that 50 years of leadership experience has taught him. Im not the type to float above everyone giving orders or one president of president ial records does a good example or does it. Its once a month and everyone can calm. They dont have to because theres a theme which can also be decided by those attending talk together about issues of language and culture, finance or whatever. And we part with the revealing of togetherness. But it also means that i get a sense of what ideas there are in the organization was and which of them we can make you so clearly, 500 to Institute Employees work in the building, an example of german postwar modernism. The architecture reflects the south image of the institution which was founded in 1951. Practicality, clear lines transparent. Say its all more than just deficit. I really value lima. Above all, i appreciate his unequivocal belief in liberalism and the importance of civil society. His conviction that we as the go to institute play an important mediating role and his courage to be quite public about his conviction. Secretary general, your highness is the manager from munich. He runs the different to institute locations in projects around the world together with commercial direct, polack, only klaus detail, a man has his own office that the president of the Good Institute is an honorary position with a focus on democracy. Believes that thats more important than ever. Were seeing an oversimplification and more brutality in our disagreements. And that worries me because we can only credibly represent our own institut around the world. Germany itself is in a position to correct these things and to create a politics thats free and committed to human rights. For all, racism is a dangerous threat that impacts our own credibility. Thats why we also want to have a stronger presence within germany. In terms of Cultural Education in the court order and the mahanta cunto is the new landmark on bangkoks skyline. You can get a great view of the city from the top man turned 80 at the end of february 2020. A few days later he was climbing up to thailands highest viewing platform. The booming Southeast Asian metropolis with 300 meters below him. A man stripped to the jail free. Our