Bankhaus Sal. Oppenheim - Company

The Roman C. Maecenas (70 – 8 BC) was a generous patron of the arts, and it is from his name that the word "maecenate" (patronage) is derived. This expression refers to the generous provision of financial support for the arts and sciences, and in a broader sense for culture and society. Patronage can take many different forms and has many objectives. It includes not only foundations and endowments, but also voluntary activities.

Sal. Oppenheim has a long tradition of patronage for the arts and culture, which continues to this day. As early as the 19th century, for example, the Oppenheim family was already the founder and promoter of numerous cultural institutions in Cologne. This included the Cologne Art Association, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, and the Museum of Applied Arts. The family also committed itself to co-founding and sponsoring Cologne's Central Society for the Construction of the Cathedral, which financed the completion of the city landmark together with the Prussian state. Sal. Oppenheim has also contributed to the fixtures and fittings of the Gothic cathedral since the 19th century, with endow-
ments for several windows. The most recent example was the reconstruction of the Apocalypse window in the south tower hall, which followed the original plans and was ceremonially consecrated in 2008.

This project was financed by the Salomon Oppenheim Foundation. In addition to art and culture in Cologne, the foundation promotes academic research projects – an objective it has in common with the Alfred Freiherr von Oppenheim Foundation, which was also established in 1989. Other current examples of the cultural commitment of the Bank include a long-standing partnership with the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, funding for the Bavarian State Orchestra, and support for Cologne's municipal archive which collapsed in 2009.

The timeline gives a historical overview of the Oppenheim family's most important cultural and social activities:

		1789 At the age of 17, Salomon Oppenheim jr. founds a “commission and exchange house”.
		1816 Following a fatally bad harvest, Salomon Oppenheim donates more than 40 bushels of grain to the poor people of Cologne.
		1820 The Prussian government appoints Salomon Oppenheim as one of the two superintendents of Jewish primary schools in Cologne.
		1839 The Cologne Art Association is established. Therese Oppenheim and her sons Simon, Abraham and Dagobert are among the first members.
		1841 Simon and Abraham Oppenheim submit their “most humble direct supplication” to the King of Prussia. This contains a self-confident plea for legal equality for Jews.

		1842 The Central Society for the Construction of the Cathedral (Zentral-Dombau-Verein) is founded. Nine members of the family join immediately.
		1859 Eduard Oppenheim and other citizens of Cologne establish the Cologne Zoo.
		1861 The synagogue in Glockengasse, funded by Abraham Oppenheim is ceremoniously consecrated after five years of construction.
		1863 The “Flora” horticultural society is founded under the direction of Eduard Freiherr von Oppenheim. He is chairman of the administrative council until his death.
		1875 Simon, Abraham, Eduard and Albert von Oppenheim make a donation to the Cologne Music Conservatory.

		1883 On the fifth anniversary of the death of Abraham Freiherr von Oppenheim, the grand opening of the Oppenheim Children’sHospital in Cologne takes place.
		1885 Charlotte Freifrau von Oppenheim funds a hospital in Bassenheim, near Koblenz.
		1899 Max Freiherr von Oppenheim discovers the remains of an Aramaic city on Tell Halaf in what is now Syria, and leads the excavation of the valuable find starting in 1911.
		1913 Emil Freiherr von Oppenheim is one of the founders of the Cologne Museum of East Asian Art.
		1928 The Bank supports the construction of new premises for the University of Cologne.

		1946 Friedrich Carl Freiherr von Oppenheim is one of the co-founders of the Europa Union, which campaigns for a united Europe.
		1957 The Institute for Bank Management and Banking Law (Institut für Bankwirtschaft und Bankrecht) is founded at the University of Cologne on the initiative of one of the Bank’s shareholders, Harald Kühnen.
		1989 The Salomon Oppenheim Foundation and Alfred Freiherr von Oppenheim Foundation are established in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Bank.
		1997 The Oppenheim family funds an endowment chair for research into anti-Semitism, racism and the Holocaust at the Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
		2001 The Salomon Oppenheim Foundation resolves to provide financial support for reconstruction of the Tell Halaf palace gate. Opening of the exhibition "The Fascination of the Orient. Max von Oppenheim: Researcher, Collector, Diplomat" in Cologne`s Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum.
		2003 The Bank contributes to the restoration and reconstruction of three windows in Cologne Cathedral.
		2008 Ceremonial consecration of a window donated by Sal. Oppenheim to Cologne Cathedral.
		2010 Sal. Oppenheim dedicates 175th Oppenheim-Union Race to the historical archive of the City of Cologne.