Osnabrücker Stadtspuren

City history is complex and resembles a kaleidoscope: if at first glance it is about the historical events in one place, the second, third and every further look reveals much more complex and far-reaching images. Because local history never took place and never will take place in isolation. It is always embedded in overarching historical, political, economic, cultural, social and ideological developments.

With the newly designed exhibition on the history of the city in the Museum of Cultural History, the Museumsquartier takes a look at the city's history from different perspectives. In six central areas, visitors can discover Osnabrück's beginnings as well as its recent past and present. Against the backdrop of national and global developments, the exhibition raises questions - about the city's own "essence" that characterizes its past and present. The exhibition is about opening up perspectives instead of "only" providing answers.

The idea of openness characterizes the exhibition spaces and the exhibition architecture: the exhibits are not only presented, but staged in such a way that visitors can make connections on their own. Right at the beginning of the exhibition, a city model allows visitors to experience individual phases of urban development through light projections. Interactive elements on the exhibition tour make it possible to experience connections with the help of different media. The Peace of Westphalia, which shaped Osnabrück as a city of peace, takes center stage in the form of an animated graphic novel.  Young visitors can develop their own perspective in a children's trail. And on the upper floor, the digital city lab challenges visitors to design their own city model at play and work tables using digital technology - the "Osnabrück of tomorrow".

The exhibition itself also acts as a bridge to an open dialog with urban society. This includes the "Osnasound" audio track. People from Osnabrück broadcast recordings of sounds that are particularly typical and characteristic of them, for example from their neighborhood or street, their workplace or their home. These recordings are part of the presentation on the city's past and present.

Open dialog also includes involving citizens in the topic of the city's history in a participatory way. The exhibition "Un.eindeutig Zuhause - Diverse City Stories in Osnabrück" was created with this in mind. It offers a change of perspective - because city history does not look the same for everyone. That is why the exhibition makes hidden history visible. This hidden history was compiled by migrant self-organizations, activists, students, volunteers and artists. At a total of eight steles set up in the city, they use letters, podcasts, photos and videos to tell stories about black people in Osnabrück, civic engagement, migration and flight stories from Turkey or the wildcat strike at Karmann in 1973.

By interweaving the permanent exhibition and accompanying projects, we have facilitated encounters and promoted an understanding of differences and similarities. In this way, the Museumsquartier makes an important contribution to ensuring peaceful coexistence in the present and future.</p

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