“Another school? Really?” someone mutters, looking at this building. But wait, this is no ordinary school. This is the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus. It is a place where decisions shape Saxony’s future. This ministry oversees higher education and fosters the arts. It also promotes tourism in this beautiful state.
The Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus resides in a building steeped in history. Its story began in the 15th century. A school known as the Dreikönigschule stood here from possibly 1407. Overcrowding led to its expansion in the 1850s.
By 1890, the need for more space was evident. A new building for the Realgymnasium Dreikönigschule was built on Wigardstraße. The school suffered complete destruction in the bombing of February 13, 1945. After the war, it was rebuilt with some alterations. A third story was added. The elaborate roof was replaced with a simpler flat roof.
The Dreikönigschule closed for good in 1947. In 1952, the site reopened as the Institut für Lehrerbildung. This institution trained teachers according to SED ideology. In 1967, it gained the status of a Pädagogische Hochschule from the GDR’s Ministerrat.
Between 1992 and 1994, the building underwent another renovation. This prepared it for the arrival of the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst. The Pädagogische Hochschule became part of the TU Dresden’s Faculty of Educational Sciences. Since then, the entire building at Wigardstraße 17 has been used by the ministry. In December 2019 the ministry was renamed to Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus.
Step inside the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus. Here, policies are crafted that impact universities and art institutions. The ministry oversees university hospitals and technical colleges. They handle matters of university admission. They also set study and examination regulations.
The Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus coordinates distance learning programs. It supports scientific continuing education. Student affairs also fall under its responsibility. This includes Studentenwerke. On an international level, the ministry deals with research, education, and cultural policies. It recognizes foreign and domestic degrees.
The ministry supports training in schools and universities. It enables institutionally funded facilities outside universities. It promotes research and young scientists. It also facilitates the transfer of knowledge in Saxony.
In the cultural sphere, it operates and supports public and scientific libraries. The ministry cultivates art and culture. It supports state theaters, orchestras, and museums. It promotes artists, literature, and film. It also oversees historical preservation and archaeology.
Since its founding in 1990, the ministry has had seven ministers. Since 2019, Sebastian Gemkow and Barbara Klepsch jointly lead the ministry. They have different areas of responsibility.
Another location of the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus is located on St. Petersburger Straße. The Staatsministerin für Kultur und Tourismus has her office here.
The building on Wigardstraße 17 stands as a testament to Dresden’s history. From a school to a teacher training facility, it now houses the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus. It continues to shape the cultural and academic landscape of Saxony. The building itself is a protected cultural monument of Dresden’s Neustadt. It is an integral part of the Neustädter Elbsilhouette.