Code of Conduct

Preamble

The Klassik Stiftung Weimar (KSW) is a preeminent cultural institution of the Federal Republic of Germany. As a non-profit foundation under public law, it is financed by the Free State of Thuringia, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the City of Weimar. Its activities focus primarily on the study and presentation of Weimar Classicism and classical modernism with the Bauhaus. The KSW is strongly committed to offering modern educational activities and presenting its collections with respect to contemporary issues. Its position is grounded not only in its public programme, but also in the areas of conservation and development, research and study, and education and communication. Within the scope of its expertise, the KSW engages in sociopolitical debates, critically examines its own history and adapts its activities to the needs of its visitors. With the cultural assets entrusted in its care, the KSW serves as a dynamic centre of culture, research and education on the regional, national and international stage.

Integrity is a fundamental and guiding principle of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar (as a non-profit foundation under public law), which means that all employees are expected to make decisions in an unbiased, uncorrupted and law-abiding manner. To safeguard and strengthen its integrity, the KSW insists that all persons associated with it act in compliance with the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany and all other applicable legal statutes and regulations. The following Code of Conduct serves to underscore this obligation.

Scope and regulatory content

The Code of Conduct applies to all persons associated in the broadest sense with the KSW, especially its employees, but also external contractual parties and cooperation partners, as well as individuals acting on behalf of the institution. This document supplements the legal framework and the mission statement of the KSW and serves as orientation for the type of behaviour expected by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar. Special rules and regulations applicable to specific cases, e.g. anti-corruption provisions, further compliance requirements and other relevant policies, apply accordingly.

Principles of conduct

As expressed in its mission statement, the KSW is firmly committed to tolerance, equal treatment and respect for human rights. In daily personal interaction, it actively opposes every form of discrimination, antisemitism and exclusion. Harassment, discrimination or humiliation based on a person’s gender, disability, origin or ethnicity, religion or worldview, nationality, age, sexual orientation, level of education or social background shall not be tolerated at the Klassik Stiftung Weimar or in its cooperative partnerships.

Respect, fairness and appreciation should characterise all internal and external collaboration between the staff and partners of the KSW.
All persons associated with the KSW undertake to conduct themselves and perform their work in a transparent and lawful manner which precludes personal advantage or enrichment of any kind.

Handling material and intellectual property

As a cultural, non-university research organisation of national and international renown, the KSW acquires, studies, investigates, presents and displays a collection of works spanning over 500 years of cultural history, along with their respective sites, buildings and park grounds. Based on these material and immaterial assets, the KSW actively contributes to current scientific, academic and social discourse. All persons associated with the KSW are obliged to follow the rules of good scientific practice and always handle the cultural artefacts and working materials entrusted in their care in a professional manner. Moreover, they must work to ensure that internal information, personal data and third-party intellectual property is handled confidentially and responsibly in compliance with current laws.

Mandate and self-image

In keeping with its social mandate, the KSW sees itself as a public cultural institution dedicated to the promotion of a democratic society and a culture of debate marked by fairness, transparency and diversity of opinion. With its renovation measures, projects, exhibitions, events, publications and other educational programmes, the KSW provides impulses and forums for this critical examination of history and our present day, preferably on the basis of its own content, collections and research areas. Against the backdrop of its own historical development and constitution, the KSW subscribes to the principles of an open (cosmopolitan) society, while acting as a politically neutral mediator, i.e. neither in support of political candidates and parties, nor as a participant in campaign activities.

Sustainability and fairness – Efficient use of resources

The KSW regards sustainability as a guiding policy and strives to align its entire spectrum of activities with the principles of resource-friendly operation, budgetary discipline and cost-benefit efficiency. It advocates for comprehensive sustainability with respect to its social, economic and environmental aspects, as well as a culture of mindfulness. As a learning institution, it strives to make more efficient use of its existing resources in all working areas.

All persons associated with the KSW are likewise expected to perform their work to the best of their ability and follow the principle of ‘sustainable transformation’.

Auch die mit der Stiftung assoziierten Personen sind dazu angehalten, diesen Anspruch in ihrer täglichen Arbeit bestmöglich zu berücksichtigen und nach dem Leitprinzip ,Wandel statt Wachstum' zu agieren.

Communication and presentation

One of the core tasks of the KSW is to make Weimar’s complex cultural heritage accessible to as much of the public as possible. Its presence in social media and presentation formats (including exhibitions) can facilitate dialogue with (virtual) visitors, serve to jointly (re-)examine our cultural heritage and make more information about its collections, educational programmes and research projects accessible worldwide. The views expressed by its digital or analogue guests and partners do not reflect the opinions of the KSW or those associated with it. The KSW shall reject statements that overstep the bounds of the legally protected right to freedom of expression and delete them, if applicable, from the comment forums in digital media.

The KSW expects all persons in its museums and in online communication to treat each other with respect and shall work to encourage and maintain such behaviour to the best of its ability. Any form of hateful, defamatory, obscene, discriminatory, harassing or historically revisionist commentary, statements, images or videos shall not be tolerated. Should such cases occur in its museums, the KSW shall make use of its domiciliary rights. In online communication, such statements shall be removed and reported to the respective social networks, and in criminally relevant cases, to the Central Reporting Office for Criminal Content on the Internet at the Federal Criminal Police Office. The authors of such content will then be blocked from using the KSW’s social media channels. The same applies to comments and submissions which violate the intellectual property rights of third parties or could be regarded as plainly advertising goods or services by individuals, parties or other organisations.

Compliance

The guidelines outlined above represent internal rules of conduct. Each KSW employee and member of its Executive Board is obliged to observe the legal regulations and internal rules relevant to their activities and within whose scope they perform their tasks. 

If you have any questions or require more information, feel free to contact the Executive Board of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar (President, Vice President and chief officers of the directorates) as well as the staff representatives (Staff Council, Youth and Trainee Representative, Representative for the Severely Disabled and Equal Opportunity Officer).