Re-emerging Cultural Agency Rediscovers Its Roots

The Neuss Cultural Office has announced a new management structure, aiming for a forward-looking approach in promoting local culture and education. The changes come with the retirement of Dr. Rainer Wiertz and Harald Müller, who are stepping down at the end of March and summer respectively.

Dr. Astrid Schenka has been appointed as the new department head for events. She will be responsible for planning major events such as the Shakespeare Festival and Dance Weeks. Dr. Schenka, who holds a doctorate in theater, film, and television sciences from the Free University of Berlin, also has a teaching assignment at the Zurich University of the Arts.

In a significant move, Christian Weber will lead the department dedicated to local cultural promotion and cultural education. His focus will be on digitization and school outreach. Weber will also shape various competitions, including the art promotion prize of the city of Neuss, Young Stage, composition, and church music competitions, and manage the programs of the Acoustic Concerts series.

Ingeborg Begalke will oversee the department of the deputy director, handling financial matters such as communication with other institutions and building management of the Globe Theater.

The new management structure is accompanied by the launch of a newsletter. This free, voluntary subscription provides in-depth information about social developments, culinary arts, art, and culture in Neuss. Subscribers can find confirmation of their subscription in their inbox or spam folder.

The newsletter aims to keep the community informed about the latest happenings in Neuss, offering detailed insights into the city's social, culinary, artistic, and cultural developments. Subscribers can rest assured that their privacy is protected, as the newsletter is not spam and adheres to a clear privacy policy.

Dr. Schenka began her role at the Neuss Cultural Office in March 2021 and will be trained by Dr. Wiertz and Harald Müller before taking up her new responsibilities fully.

As the city of Neuss moves forward with its cultural initiatives, the new management structure and newsletter are set to play a crucial role in keeping the community engaged and informed.