The future of the Gutenberg Museum continues to take shape: In addition to the construction plans for the new complex and the design plans for the new museum’s exhibition layout, work is currently underway to refine the funding and financing strategy. In this regard, the state capital of Mainz has now received positive news from Berlin: The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) has now sent the grant notification for 7.45 million euros to fund the scenography of the new Gutenberg Museum. The funds come from the “KulturInvest 2024” program. This funding enables the implementation of a scenography befitting the World Museum of the Art of Printing.

Ludwig Holle, the city official responsible for the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, emphasizes: “The formal confirmation of the announced federal funding is great news and a strong signal of the project’s significance. I would like to thank the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Wolfram Weimer, and the relevant federal agencies. I am very pleased with this signal.” 

The federal funding program stands for forward-looking cultural promotion with national relevance. With these funds, the planned exhibition concept—which aims to translate historical contexts into the context of today’s media world—can now be implemented.

As a project of particular social significance, the Gutenberg Museum Mainz has remained the subject of public interest and the focus of broad-based participatory processes from the very beginning. An institution dedicated to book printing as one of humanity’s greatest inventions—and thus to the democratization of knowledge—“cannot, by its very nature, fail to resonate with the public,” Holle emphasizes. Therefore, it is understandable and desirable that the engaged urban community and many Gutenberg enthusiasts also advocate for the museum and speak out in its support.

Demands of the Gutenberg Foundation  

In light of the Gutenberg Foundation’s recent statements during a press conference, city leaders can understand the concerns regarding the current status of the future organizational structure and operating costs: “The fact that we would like to see the city, as well as the state and federal governments, remain on board with the Gutenberg Museum as a world museum of the art of printing on a permanent basis has already been stated on multiple occasions and is therefore no secret. We remain in contact with both levels of government, although the state elections and the new organizational structures within the ministries have necessitated a brief pause.” 

That the Gutenberg Foundation is applying pressure here and urging speed is understandable and, at the same time, its right as a group of those who feel committed to Gutenberg’s legacy. Holle: “The critical expertise also supports our approach, which is largely the same in terms of objectives.”

Holle also makes it clear: “What we cannot understand is that signals are being perceived that the city would be content with the ‘interim’ solution, coupled with the supposed signal that it no longer intends to implement the major goal of rebuilding and modernizing the World Museum of Printing Art, or is even losing sight of it. Such an assessment in no way reflects the goals of the efforts made in recent years to completely rebuild the museum and make it fit for the future—both structurally, didactically, and in terms of future governance.” 

Construction Site 

Changes are already visible at the construction site on Liebfrauenplatz, and work is also proceeding at full speed behind the scenes. Ludwig Holle, Head of the Department of Construction, Monument Preservation, and Historical Heritage: “We have highly dedicated teams with proven expertise both at the museum and on the construction site, who are designing the new museum’s content and future operations in a prudent, forward-looking, and innovative manner, while at the same time committing themselves to this project with great competence, conviction, and passion. All those involved share the common goal of successfully implementing this enormously significant project and positioning it for the future. We will, of course, continue to maintain close communication with all other supporters along the way.” 

The state capital of Mainz is convinced that this will once again reaffirm the museum’s outstanding national significance for the city, the state, and the federal government.

Funding and Financing Strategy 

In addition to the federal funds now firmly committed for the scenographic design, financial support from the state capital grant is being planned for the financing of the construction in coordination with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The proposed funding amount here amounts to another 20 to 25 million euros. The first stage of the application process has already been successfully completed.

Regarding the financing of the restoration of the “Hotel Schwan” in accordance with historic preservation standards, the state capital expressed its interest in November 2025 in the federal special funding program “Special Program for Historic Preservation” and has already —as the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) recently announced—selected as eligible for funding. 

The updated funding amount totals approximately 1.03 million euros. 

Contact has been made with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to secure financial support for the overall project. This involves the provision of a potential low-interest loan. 

Ludwig Holle, the department head responsible for Mainz, emphasizes: “A central focus of my work as the new department head is to create as transparent and reliable a foundation of information as possible for the construction project. It is important to bear in mind that major construction projects are, by their very nature, associated with certain uncertainties. The goal is to be able to present a well-founded status report in due course that takes current findings and framework conditions into account as effectively as possible.”

Sponsorship Structure: Foundation Remains the Goal 

The stated goal remains to transition the Gutenberg Museum Mainz into a new governance structure in the form of a foundation, in which, in addition to the City of Mainz, the State of Rhineland-Palatinate and, in the future, other partners—such as the federal government—can participate. The city is thus implementing the recommendation of the broad-based “Modernization of the Gutenberg Museum” workshops and had commissioned the renowned agency KULTUREXPERTEN, led by Prof. Oliver Scheytt, to provide professional guidance on this important issue.

Important groundwork for this has already been laid in constructive discussions with the Ministry of Family, Women, Culture, and Integration of the previous state government in Rhineland-Palatinate: The draft statutes for the foundation were presented to the ministry, and the suggestions made there were successfully incorporated into the further drafting process.

The new department head, Ludwig Holle, has also made contact with the new Rhineland-Palatinate state government and the new minister in charge to continue the discussions with commitment and great determination. An initial exchange has also already taken place with the federal government.

Ludwig Holle commented: “The fact that the Gutenberg Museum is not explicitly mentioned in the state’s coalition agreement should not be interpreted as a lack of appreciation. The coalition agreement does not list specific projects. The cultural and historical significance is, of course, well known to decision-makers at the state level.”

Naturally, numerous technical and organizational details regarding the new governing structure and the operation of the new museum will still need to be clarified as the process unfolds. However, all processes are coordinated, and the new governing structure is to be prepared in such a way that it will take effect immediately upon completion of the new museum and enable a successful, smooth start to museum operations.