Patronage & Support

Art

The Garant

Harald Björnsgard’s sculptures have been described as art that makes a striking impression and balances contrasts to great effect. The artist and graphic designer who has worked in Radolfzell since 1998 trusts in the sensuality and expressiveness of his medium, in the materials he chooses and their forms. His sculpture “Garant”, which he created especially for the foyer of Singen town hall in 2005, is a vivid example of this.

“Garant” stands firm, solid and self-assured on a pedestal that gives it a sense of groundedness and stability. Consisting of stacked cubes and blocks set at different angles, it resembles the torso and limbs of a body. Björnsgard has dissected the body into individual parts and reassembled them to create a giant, monumental figure. The subtle rotation of the head is an extension of the larger block, symbolising calm and upheaval as the opposing poles of human existence. Björnsgard has crafted and treated the surfaces with the utmost care, both during casting and in the finishing process. Polished, gleaming and smooth surfaces contrast sharply with dark, rough, distinctly furrowed textures. These contrasts illustrate the artist's dexterity and skill with tools, but also the possibilities of aluminium as a material. They suggest a work that is open-ended and in progress, illustrating the unfinished nature of the sculpture. The piece, which appears solid and permanent to the viewer, refers in its form to an ultimately endless array of possibilities. (Text by Singen Art Museum)

The sculpture was a gift by Senator Dietrich H. Boesken to the citizens of Singen. The design and the material used are also intended as a nod to Singen as an “Alu” town with its erstwhile largest employer Alusingen.

Social projects

Mainau Island

The Boesken family has long cultivated a special friendship with the House of Bernadotte. Senator Dietrich H. Boesken and his wife Ursula Boesken enjoyed particularly close relations with Count Lennart and Countess Sonja Bernadotte. This was also thanks in no small part to their great appreciation of the Bernadottes’ social, environmental and civic commitment. For many years, the DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Foundation has supported the Lennart-Bernadotte Foundation, which is dedicated above all to landscape conservation and environmental projects, as well as the Europäische KulturForum Mainau (Mainau European Cultural Forum), whose primary purpose is to promote art and culture, especially up-and-coming artists. A more recent project is the Mentor Stiftung Deutschland (German Mentor Foundation) on Mainau Island under the aegis of Countess Bettina Bernadotte and committed to highlighting future prospects for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Cai A. Boesken, Managing Partner of BOESKEN GmbH, is a founding member of Mentor Stiftung Deutschland.

Cai A. Boesken at an event held by Mentor at Christmas 2016 in the White Hall of Mainau Castle with members of the Mentor Foundation.

 

Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden greets Senator Dietrich H. Boesken at an event of the Mentor Foundation on Mainau Island in 2019. Left to right: Countess Bettina Bernadotte, HM Queen Silvia, Ursula Boesken and Senator Dietrich H. Boesken.

The DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Prize to the value of 5,000 euros is awarded to the best master’s degree of a year at the University of Konstanz.

Science

University of Konstanz

The company also owes its close connections with the University of Konstanz, designated a “University of Excellence”, to the founder of BOESKEN GmbH. Shortly after moving to the Lake Constance region, Dietrich H. Boesken became involved in supporting local research and teaching. From 1995 to 2004 he was President of the University of Konstanz Society and in 1998 was awarded the accolade of Honorary Senator in recognition of his exceptional services to the university. Since 2008, the DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Prize has been awarded to the best master’s degree of a year, endowed with prize money of 5,000 euros. The DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Foundation also funded the Dahrendorf bust in memory of one of the founders of the University of Konstanz. In another major project to support the University of Konstanz, he provided funding for the illustrated volume “Expressed Reform: Architecture and Art at the University of Konstanz” to mark the university’s 50th anniversary in 2016.

The DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Foundation regularly promotes other institutions and initiatives of the university including supporting holders of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship and making regular donations to the university orchestra, university sports and the library.

 

Science

Deutschlandstipendium scholarship at the University of Konstanz

This scholarship supports talented, socially committed and financially disadvantaged students at the University of Konstanz with 300 euros a month. Half of the scholarship is funded by the German federal government, while the other half is provided by private donors. Scholarship holders are selected in a multi-stage process that takes not only their academic performance into consideration, but also their community involvement and financial needs.

The DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Foundation regularly supports several students with an annual scholarship.

On 16 October 2024 the foundation was presented with a certificate for its commitment from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Successful holders of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship of the University of Konstanz.

 

 

Senator Dietrich H. Boesken

Social projects

Singen Civic Trust

On the homepage of Singen Civic Trust, Senator Dietrich H. Boesken, founder and namesake of the DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Foundation, is quoted: “The fact that civic trusts have been so successful in many German cities over the past few decades was one reason why I decided to help set up a similar trust for the town.” Following his initiative, the trust was established in Singen town hall on 11 May 2011. Together with entrepreneur Manfred Klemann from Singen, honorary citizen Senator Dietrich H. Boesken contributed 25,000 euros, the largest single donation in connection with the founding of the trust.

Cai Adrian Boesken has been a member of the trust board for several years.

The purpose of Singen Civic Trust according to its statute is to promote local charitable and social projects. The aim is to strengthen social cohesion in Singen and support civil society through meaningful community projects. The Singen Civic Trust has since initiated numerous cultural, social and other charitable events.

The DIETRICH H. BOESKEN Foundation continues to support Singen Civic Trust with regular and, in some cases, significant donations.