Alexander Farenholtz becomes interim managing director for Documenta

After the resignation of Documenta general director Sabine Schormann, an interim managing director was found for the world art show.

Alexander Farenholtz becomes interim managing director for Documenta

After the resignation of Documenta general director Sabine Schormann, an interim managing director was found for the world art show. Documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH announced that Alexander Farenholtz was unanimously entrusted with this task on Monday.

The Documenta shareholders are happy to have found such an experienced and renowned cultural manager in such a challenging situation. He will take on the task on Tuesday and his commitment is initially limited to September 30th.

Among other things, Farenholtz was involved in the realization of Documenta 9, took over management of the cultural program for the World Exhibition Expo 2000 and was administrative director of the German Federal Cultural Foundation.

In 2002 he was appointed founding board member and administrative director of the German Federal Cultural Foundation. He held this office alongside Hortensia Völckers as artistic director until she reached retirement age in January 2020.

In the wake of the anti-Semitism scandal surrounding the art show and the sluggish process of coming to terms with it, Schormann resigned from her post. Even before Documenta fifteen began in Kassel, allegations of anti-Semitism had been leveled at the Indonesian artist collective Ruangrupa, which curated the 100-day exhibition. Shortly after the opening of the show, which is considered the most important exhibition for contemporary art alongside the Venice Biennale, a work with anti-Semitic imagery was discovered.

It is Alexander Farenholtz's wish, after the agreement with the shareholders, to start talks first with the artistic direction and then also with the team at Documenta gGmbH, the statement said.