To mark the 250th anniversary of Kleist’s birth in 2027, the Kleist-Museum Foundation is planning a new permanent exhibition on the life, work and influence of Heinrich von Kleist. What new perspectives on his work can we discover today? How can we convey the figure of Heinrich von Kleist and his world of experience to our contemporary audience? And what role does the unique nature of literature as an exhibition object play? Drawing on our collections and with reference to current research debates, we are addressing these and other questions in preparation for the new permanent exhibition.
Summary of the project
The museum intends to redesign the content and layout of its permanent exhibition, which is due to open in spring 2027 and will replace the current permanent exhibition, which opened in 2013. The aim is to examine the content in the light of current research findings, drawing on the collections of the Kleist-Museum Foundation and employing a museum design that engages with contemporary discourse, whilst developing appropriate ways of addressing visitors. Objects from the museum’s collections are available for the new exhibition; however, one of the challenges in presenting Kleist in a museum context is that very few original manuscripts and objects from the author’s life have survived.
The redesign of the permanent exhibition in the anniversary year 2027 is being funded as part of the ‘Investments for National Cultural Institutions in Germany’ programme by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, with funding from the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture.
The project ‘Light for Kleist – LED lighting for the new permanent exhibition’ is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
The ‘Discovery Trail’ for children and families is kindly supported by the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung and Sparkasse Oder-Spree.
Contact
Research Assistant and Curator of the Permanent Exhibition
Dr Milena Rolka
Tel.: +49 335 387 221-35
Email: rolka@kleist-museum.de
Research Assistant and Curator of the Education Programme
Viviane Jasmin Meierdreeß
Tel.: +49 335 387 221-40
Email: meierdreess@kleist-museum.de
The Kleist Anniversary in 2027
Drawing on Kleist’s themes and the unique historical character of the twin cities of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice, the transdisciplinary anniversary programme ‘Kreuzungen – Intersections. 250 – Kleist’ is dedicated to the current state of the region on and beyond the eastern border, its reality and possible future.
You can find more information about the anniversary year here.