One of the great challenges facing cultural and art institutions has always been how to attract new patrons and visitors. More and more we are seeing increasingly interactive displays and imaginative exhibits aimed at engaging visitors in different ways. Improving accessibility is also proving a great way to attract new audiences, especially when a whole evening of fun, entertainment and music are thrown into the equation.The Long Night of the Museums (Lange Nacht der Museen) does just this, and has been a hugely successful cultural phenomenon. The ideas was started in Berlin in 1997, home to the hugely impressive Museum Island to introduce new individuals to just such cultural institutions. So successful has this innovative concept been that the concept has also been rolled out to other Germany cities with Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Munich, and Kassel all now holding similar events.
Each of these cities now opens hundreds of museums and other cultural venues all evening and late into the night on various Saturdays throughout the year for an informal evening of enjoyment. With plenty of extra entertainment laid on for visitors too you could say this is ‘rock ‘n roll’ meets renaissance. This certainly is a novel and inventive concept that is proving hugely popular in attracting visitors, and it’s certainly a whole lot of fun too.My own nocturnal cultural jamboree took place in Stuttgart, the first Germany city to open after hours for art lovers. With 90 galleries, museums and exhibition venues throwing open their doors for over 30,000 visitors, Stuttgart’s annual late night culture-fest has become one of the most anticipated events of the year. Taking place in the capital of the sate of Baden-Württemberg this region is also well known as the home of iconic German institutions such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and the enchanting Black Forest.
With so many venues participating in the event it is of course impossible to visit them all in one evening. Thankfully a dozen carefully thought out routes have been planned complete with a map to download with travel instructions for the nearest bus and tube stops. Tickets for fifteen Euros each not only gain access to all of the venues on your chosen route but also allow you to use the free shuttle buses laid on for the evening.
My own route is the Karlsplatz / Schlossplatz which is also the most central and therefore easily navigated on foot. Starting at 7pm the route takes in some of Stuttgart’s most renowned museums as well as some events put on especially for the occasion.
The tour starts at the Schlossplatz, Stuttgart’s beautiful central square around which are situated some of the city’s most important museums and historic buildings, a good place to start then. The Kunstmuseum, a giant glass cube which has stood in the central Kleiner Schlossplatz since 2005. The museum provides over 5,000 square metres of exhibition space for classical modernism to contemporary art and photography and is magnificently lit on this pleasantly spring like evening.
Inside the crowds are already taking in over 15,000 works of art from the city’s municipal art collection. The main draws are photography exhibitions by Stuttgart natives Elger Esser and Gerda Taro, whose photos documenting the Spanish Civil War are viewed accompanied by a selection of tapas from the museums OT Bar.
Back out on the Schlossplatz the crowds are wandering between the Württembergischer Art Association - where the unique take on social and political issues through the lens of Cologne artist Bettina Lockeman are on show - and the fairy tale backdrop of the Landesmuseum Württemberg. Once the seat of the Earls and Dukes of Wurttemberg this German Renaissance castle now houses the Württemberg State Museum. The Landesmuseum has numerous collections of historical importance, exploring this turreted fortress with its beautiful inner courtyard is enough to keep any visitor enchanted though.
The castle is also being used as one of the central locations for many of the activities in the evening’s programme of events which makes for a stunning backdrop to proceedings. The guided tours being shown around the castle are straining to hear over a live blues band at one point and nimbly manoeuvre around a salsa class at another, it’s all part of the entertainment.
Moving on the ifa-Gallery Stuttgart is home to the Institute for International Relations which brings together people from different cultures through its exhibitions. This institute showcases art, architecture and design from Africa, Asia, Latin America as well as Eastern Europe as well as being a leading German institution for international art exchange with exhibitions from the German art world.
The most thought provoking exhibition is a ‘post oil city’ which looks at the environmentally friendly and energy efficient buildings that are fundamental issues for architects and town planners today. It’s a serious topic and but the exhibition in interesting and well thought out. I especially enjoyed the soundtrack of acoustical impressions from the metropolises of the world provided by DJ Axel. It’s not often that you get to wander around a museum in the middle of the night and get a funky ethnic soundtrack to do it to, is it?
Long night of the Museums takes place in the following cities in Germany throughout 2010.
Stuttgart Saturday 20 March 2010 http.www.lange-nacht.de
Frankfurt Am Main Saturday 24 April 2010 http://www.nacht-der-museen.de/frankfurt
Düsseldorf Saturday 8 May 2010 http://www.nacht-der-museen.de/
Munich Saturday 8 May 2010 http://www.muenchner.de/cms/front_content.php
Berlin Saturday 28 August 2010 http://www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de/
Kasseler Saturday 4 September 2010 http://www.museumsnacht.de/
Cologne Saturday 6 November 2010 http://www.museumsnacht-koeln.de/
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