Köhler Osbahr Foundation

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The Köhler-Osbahr Foundation for the Promotion of Art and Science was set up in 1986 by the politician and steel manager Herbert W. Köhler and his wife Ingeborg Köhler-Osbahr. It supports a diverse promotion of music culture in the city of Duisburg and the music prize, the preservation and expansion of the couple's extensive collection of coins and antiques in the Duisburg Museum of Culture and City History , as well as the promotion of legal and political studies on a constitutional theory of the economy.

It is a foundation under private law based in Düsseldorf . The foundation's assets are currently around 6.2 million euros.

It is supported by the Köhler-Osbahr-Stiftung e. V. based in Duisburg.

Music and culture funding

Ingeborg and Herbert Wilhelm Köhler-Osbahr shared a passion for classical music during their lifetime . Gustav Mahler's 2nd and 3rd symphonies in particular were among her favorite pieces, so the foundation statutes explicitly state that this work should be performed in Duisburg about every ten years. On the other hand, the foundation aims to promote the musical culture in Duisburg, which would not be possible with the city budget alone. This includes, among other things, the engagement of top performers for operas and concerts, support for special performances and equipment, as well as the implementation of musical competitions.

In order to honor the achievements of the musicians and to promote the musical culture in Duisburg, the music prize of the city of Duisburg has been awarded annually since 1990 . The prize is endowed with 15,000 euros . Potential winners can include:

  • Composers: These can be composers who have already been recognized, but also young composers for whom the award is also linked to funding.
  • Directors, set designers or costume designers who have distinguished themselves through an exemplary rehearsal of a music theater or music film production.
  • Writers who have written an important work in music literature (biography, musicological research, libretto, etc.).
  • Performers (soloists and ensembles) whose achievements are to be recognized or whose development is to be promoted by the award.

In order to encourage the next generation, there has been a sponsorship award for young musicians since 1994 and the music education award since 1999 . In addition to the personal award, music education projects for children and young people have also been funded since 2006, which are intended to help develop their personality and talents.

The Köhler-Osbahr Collection

The couple also had a great interest in art and cultural history. Through the passion for collecting antique, ethnological and curious art and everyday objects, as well as pocket watches, jewelry and coins, numerous objects from all over the world came together. Collectibles of all high cultures from approx. 3000 BC BC to modern times are represented in it. The main focus is on Asia, Central and South America and ancient Europe. In 1990 the Köhler-Osbahr Collection was given to the Duisburg Museum of Culture and City History on permanent loan and its preservation was secured by the foundation. It is the first public exhibition under private law.

A large part of this is made up of the collection of around 70,000 coins and pre- coinage means of payment . In addition to coins from different eras and countries, there are also some exotic currencies such as Chinese tea block money, Siamese porcelain tokens or the somewhat unwieldy African iron money in the form of knives, picks and shields. The collection is scientifically supervised by a numismatist responsible for it. In cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen, History Department, students can view and examine the means of payment in the original.

The more than 200 pieces of jewelry are mainly thanks to Ingeborg Köhler-Osbahr. In addition to the donor's personal jewelry, the collection also includes various unusual pieces of jewelry. They show examples of old and modern jewelry design from different parts of the world. Special features are Algerian Berber jewelry, silver jewelry from Turkmenistan , India and Southeast Asia , as well as European gems from the 18th to the 20th century. There is also a collection of various medals and pocket watches.

The spouses are particularly fond of Greco-Roman antiquity . The numerous statues, vases and bowls in the collection testify to this. Among the many decorative and everyday objects, however, there is also a large selection of objects from other ancient high cultures. They cover a period from approx. 3000 years before our era to modern times. The oldest are from Mesopotamia , Anatolia and Egypt . More recent are works of art from the Byzantine Empire , East Asia and ancient South and Central America .

Through acquisitions by the foundation and through donations and gifts from Duisburg citizens, the portfolio is constantly being expanded. Parts of the collection find a place at special exhibitions, also internationally. Several publications have been published on the Köhler-Osbahr Collection, which thematically deal with the various objects.

Science and Research

As a third focus, the foundation fulfills the purpose of promoting legal and political studies for a constitutional theory of the economy. The 40 law faculties at German universities are eligible to apply. Among other things, it supports the co-financing of a temporary teaching assignment, dissertations and other works suitable for publication, as well as an author who documents the development of legislation, case law and science every ten years or so.

Herbert W. Köhler, who holds a doctorate in law, had a major impact on German steel policy and was considered a strict defender of the liberal market economy and an opponent of dirigism . He was one of the founding fathers of the Research Institute for Economic Constitution and Competition e. V. (FIW) . In his paper, published in 1993, he made a plea for a constitutional doctrine of the economy. It deals with his knowledge and experience in dealing with the market economy and the constitutional, economic and socio-political requirements. They are underpinned by the teachings of the classic pioneers of economics such as Adam Smith , Baron de Montesquieu and Alexis de Toqueville , as well as representatives from regulatory policy such as Walter Eucken , Franz Böhm and Walter Hallstein . In addition, aspects of the social market economy in a state of emergency and emergency legislation are discussed using examples from the steel crisis.

The foundation is intended to continue Köhler's scientific work and to promote research in the field of economic constitution, competition regulations and competition law.

Others

The founder's grave is located in the Duisburg Forest Cemetery .

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Individual evidence

  1. ^ Köhler-Osbahr Foundation for the Promotion of Art and Science. In: German Foundation Center. Retrieved November 17, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Music Prize of the City of Duisburg in connection with the Köhler-Osbahr-Foundation. In: Kulturpreise.de. Retrieved November 17, 2018 .
  3. ↑ Publications on the Köhler-Osbahr Collection. In: Duisburg City Museum. Retrieved November 17, 2018 .
  4. ^ Herbert W. Köhler: Plea for a constitutional theory of the economy . FIW publication series H.152. Carl Heymanns Verlag, Cologne / Berlin / Bonn / Munich 1993, ISBN 3-452-22713-8 .