History of the Inventory Designer: A resolution of the National Assembly of 30.10.1919 in which the Reich government was requested "to ensure the cooperation of suitable experts in all legislative and administrative matters in which an artistic view can be considered and to create an institution at the Reich Ministry of the Interior which guarantees uniform handling" [1] led to the establishment of the office of the Reich Art Director. With effect from 1.1.1920 the Reich Minister of the Interior appointed Edwin Redslob Reichskunstwart. Responsible for all state art and cultural issues, he should mediate between the subjective design of the artist and the demands of the state. In addition to advising all Reich departments on artistic issues, Redslob saw his main task in the promotion of artists and art genres of all kinds. He paid particular attention to handicrafts and commercial graphics. State celebrations were organized by the office, exhibitions and competitions were promoted, distressed artists were supported. Commissioned with the "design of the Reich", the first task of the Reich Art Director was to award the contract for the design of a Reich coat of arms for the Weimar Republic. Under the authority of the Reich Minister of the Interior, only two speakers and two office workers were active in the office in addition to Redslob, while during the Great Depression only one secretary remained. The office was dissolved in 1933.[2] Remarks [1] Cf. R 43 I/ 831 fol. 2 [2] Inventory description: Inventory history After the dissolution of the office in 1933, the files of the Reichskunstwart were taken over by the Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda, but were not continued. In 1946, the events were transferred to the then main archive in Berlin, now the Secret State Archive, and received the inventory signature Re. 301. A summary list was compiled for the first 460 volumes. The documents were handed over to the Federal Archives on 7.7.1969. The volumes formed in the Secret State Archives have been newly recorded by Mr Gregor Verlande since 1977. From April 1979, Dr. Eder-Stein opened up the archive records, which had not yet been processed. As a result, the Publication Findbuch Bestand R 32 Reichskunstwart was published as volume 16 of the Findbücher zu Bestände des Bundesarchivs 1979. It forms the basis for the online version that has now been developed. The inventory was retained by the editor, Mrs. Simone Langner, during the production of the online finding aid. Only series and band sequences were partly newly formed. Citation BArch R 32/... Characterisation of the content: The Office's activities are primarily evidenced by the files relating to the management of its departments. Further focal points are the documents on art promotion and maintenance, on the organisation of exhibitions, fairs and competitions as well as on cooperation with associations and institutions. In addition to the design of state celebrations and the planning of the Imperial Memorial, procedures for the preservation of historical monuments, nature conservation and heritage protection are documented, as are decisions regarding design in various areas. State of development: publication index (1979), online index (2006). Citation style: BArch, R 32/...
