Berlin

Whether it be the progressive opening of the Humboldt Forum, the educationally interesting Anne Frank Centre, the new permanent collection and award-winning children’s world of the Jewish Museum Berlin, or the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation and its controversial history of development—recently, there have been a number of (re)openings of established and new institutions in Berlin worth visiting. With the inclusion of future projects such as the Exile Museum behind the ruins of the Anhalter Bahnhof, these provide a boost of ten thousand square metres of exhibition space to an ever-diversifying urban landscape of museums and culture devoted to the history and development of the near and far away world. As part of the planned tour of museums, we want to discuss with experts and museum professionals how the abovementioned venues are situated within the history of museums and the context of other institutions. What is their institutional understanding as a museum, forum, or documentation centre? What role do they play in dealing with current social issues? How can their professionals react in a timely and appropriate manner to changing social debates (for instance, those concerning Germany’s colonial heritage)? What do the conflicting expectations of politicians, tourism professionals, museum colleagues, and finally, the guests have on their everyday work? Given some very sensitive topics to be handled, is it possible to be both a historical as well as a tourist venue?