Focal areas

Sponsoring culture – A tradition of involvement

Cultural commitment is one of Munich Re's long-standing traditions. We believe cultural diversity is crucial to society's well-being and serves as a barometer for innovative developments and global trends.

Both sides benefit from interaction between business and culture, and many cultural projects are only possible because of corporate sponsorship. At the same time, creative and aesthetic aspects can also provide valuable impulses for employees and society as a whole. That is why Munich Re supports the arts, for example as a member of the arts sponsorship group AKS within the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

Art and Munich Re

Munich Re's appreciation of art has a long-standing tradition. Founder Carl von Thieme recognised the inspirational power of contemporary art and enjoyed engaging in dialogue with artists. In 1912 and 1913, he commissioned a number of young artists to decorate the newly completed Main Building at Königinstrasse in Munich, thus laying the foundations for our artistic commitment.
Our corporate art collection has always been an integral part of Munich Re's corporate culture. We only acquire works by contemporary artists that mirror the present and function as a "seismograph" of society.
A striking new visual element in Munich Re's art collection is the sculpture by Roxy Paine. Like Jonathan Borofsky's 17-metre-high Walking Man back in 1995, Paine's steel sculpture visibly and tangibly reflects our corporate commitment to art in a publicly accessible place.

Strengthening the dialogue between culture and business

A further contribution towards strengthening the dialogue between culture and business was our Climate and Art competition in 2010. Together with the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, the Munich Re » Corporate Climate Centre and our Corporate Art Department invited students to take up the subject of climate change in their artistic work. At the same time, the academy held a seminar on the same topic in conjunction with Munich Re experts. The models created by the 11 finalists have thus far been on display in exhibitions in Munich (2010/11) and Düsseldorf (2011).

Commitment at the Munich office

With our membership in various bodies dedicated to promoting and supporting Munich cultural institutions, such as the Premium Circle of the Bavarian State Opera or the Pinakothek Society, we underscore our commitment to the arts. Munich Re also cooperates with various Munich museums. MEAG has adopted its own approach to art. Several times a year it organises guided tours for staff to current exhibitions.

Sparking children’s interest in music

Since 2009 the ERGO Insurance Group has sponsored the classical concert series “3-2-1 Ignition”. The youth concerts presented by the Düsseldorf Tonhalle within its “Junge Tonhalle” series seek to bring classical music closer to young people. In the “SingPause” project also sponsored by ERGO, trained singers visit Düsseldorf primary schools twice a week to build up a broad international repertoire of songs among the children. In this way, the children get to know their own voice, develop a feel for the music, and train motor skills and concentration through play.