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History of the Association
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The
Adalbert Stifter Association was founded in 1947 in Munich by Sudeten
German scientists, artists and authors. Unlike other institutions
that bear the name of an author, it does not primarily devote itself
to the commemoration of Adalbert Stifter. The founding fathers chose
this name because they viewed that the well known author from the
Bohemian Forest (Šumava) to be a symbol for the lost homelands and
he presented the image of Bohemia embracing Czechs and Germans equally
as native countrymen.
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Baronin von Herzogenberg and Erich Mende at the opening of the
exposition "Flucht und Grenze", Bonn, 1964
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Originally, the Associaton’s
activities consisted of providing exiled countrymen with cultural
support. Since 1952, it has been financed by the Federal government
as a cultural Associaton based on the § 96 of the Law on Refugees
and Expelled persons. In the 1950’s the Associaton evolved into
a cultural institute, specializing in the organisation of historical
Art Exhibitions, historical Literature research and the promotion
of the artists.
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Artists´ meeting in Regensburg 1966
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Larger
exhibitions organised by the Associaton included themes such
as St. John of Nepomuk,
Emperor Charles IV, Emil Orlik, a Review of the River Elbe from
the 18th and 19th century, Prague’s pivotal role in emigration and
Johann Amos Comenius. Also the volumes on Bohemian historical art,
published by the Association, have enjoyed much popularity. The
first volume (Baroque in Bohemia) appeared in 1964 and the last
one (Bohemia in the 19th century) was published in 1995.
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From its beginning the
Associaton, has always endeavoured to make contact with Czech artists
and scientists. After the “Prague Spring” was crushed in the Summer
of 1968, it co-operated with InterNationes to open the „Czechoslovak
Bureau“, that supported Czech emigrants. Apart from its scientific
activities and since 1989, the Associaton has also been extremely
active in the promotion of Czech-German cultural exchanges.
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