A Ticket, all the houses – according to the principle of work of night of the Museum. Twenty years ago, in Berlin, invented, lures the concept today in cities around the world, the people in the museums.
In 1997 the first Long night of museums took place in Berlin. At that time, a community action of 18 houses, is the twentieth birthday in Berlin with the participation of more than 80 museums celebrated with 800 events, to which around 30,000 people expected. “Made in Berlin” is the Motto the power of the concept is in addition to today, but far beyond Berlin.
“The city experience”
As the former Berlin Senator for Culture, Volker Hassemer 20 years ago had the idea of the new Format, the response was still a little excited. “Even the heads of large houses were said – be careful – very cautious,” says the CDU politician. The idea of a concerted action to extend the opening Hours into the night hours and to combine the offers, however.
Very popular: The “Long night of the museums” in Berlin
After the first Successes in Berlin, German cities such as Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich followed. Meanwhile, there is hardly a German town that attracts at least once-a-year night owls with their culture. “People can experience their city in an entirely new,” says Moritz van Dülmen, Director of kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH, which is responsible for the entire Organisation around Berlin’s Museum night. “You are not able to discover the museums, you know. You can go without fear in homes they’ve held for maybe elitist. Or you can simply be together and enjoy socializing.”
An international success
In Austria, the ORF organised since the year 2000, a country-wide Museum night, which attracted so far more than five million visitors. Also in the Philippines there are for ten years, a Night of Heritage – a night of cultural heritage. “More than a hundred cities, from Prague to Paris, from Brussels to Buenos Aires have adopted our model for success,” says van Dülmen. “Our first Long night twenty years ago was the big Bang. Since then, the idea has gone around the world”.
But not only the museums, were inspired by the idea of clip-on. Other disciplines are now with this event format: The Long night of the Sciences, Religion, music, literature, Sports… and even the fire departments, the laboratories and the hotel bars.
One of the many variants: The Long night of religions in Berlin
The idea of “Now we do all together something for all” have developed a large tensile force, said Moritz van Dülmen. “Each Institution can draw attention to themselves. But above all, a collaboration with new cooperation emerges, because all have the same goal.” Often, especially in the smaller houses benefited even – because they were known to be in the wind shadow of the great.
JHA/bb (dpa/www.long-night-of-museums.de)