Most of Berlin’s museums can usually not complain about a lack of crowds. But who doesn’t come to art and exhibitions? By researching cultural participation, the city would like to find new ways to reach potential visitors who previously felt a reluctance to visit museums. “We have started various forms of opening up the cultural institutions,” said Senator for Culture Klaus Lederer of the German Press Agency in Berlin. This includes, for example, the establishment of free Sundays once a month.
“We want to expand the offers for underrepresented groups,” said the left-wing politician. “For the dissemination of perspectives in a society that is becoming more diverse, the program, staff and audience are a key factor in making such facilities accessible: I only go there if I have the feeling that I can find myself there.” Lederer’s point of view, for example, as to which stories can be told in houses. This should then by no means be perceived as a “mandatory visit”.
Your own perception and your own audience
Lederer referred above all to the work of the Institute for Cultural Participation Research. Initial studies there have shown that education, age and finances are among the strongest influencing factors for cultural participation. The nationwide unique institute can help cultural institutions with the interpretation of data, “in order to then reflect on their own perception and their own audience – including what may be missing – and come up with new ideas and structures”. Such findings are not regionally bound.
Those responsible announced on Tuesday that the free Sundays will continue in 2022 and 2023. Around 155,000 visitors came to the six days of this type so far. The program now includes 64 museums. The Berlin Humboldt Forum is also taking part with the special exhibitions that are otherwise chargeable. According to initial evaluations by the institute, nine out of ten respondents found the initiative very good. For three quarters, the free admission was the impetus to come to the museum that day. Most of them visited the museum for the first time on the free day. Comprehensive results of the study have been announced for the summer.